PASSOVER ATTITUDE
As Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread draw near, it is time to reflect on the importance of our relationship with God and one another When partaking of the symbols of Jesus Christ's suffering and death at Passover services, it should go without saying, that we should be taking it in the attitude and frame of mind that God intends (I Cor. 11:27-29).
God teaches from His Word that there are two ways of life: One way is steeped in pride and vanity,
where all their loyalty is focused on 1). Self-love; 2). Self-importance; 3). Self-exaltation; 4). Self-glorification; 5). Self-admiration; 6). Self-satisfaction; and 7). Self-confidence. Synonyms for pride and vanity would be: 1.) Conceit - always implies an exaggerated opinion of oneself; and blinded by overwhelming conceit; 2). Vanity - is excessive desire to be admired by others for their achievements; 3). Vainglory - extreme conceit manifested by boasting, swaggering and being so arrogant that you think your opinions are always right.
Those who choose to live this way are concerned primarily with prestige, importance, personal gratification and the physical wealth that they can acquire for themselves. They are self-seeking and fundamentally selfish. Their basic motivation is for their own physical self-fulfillment, with little regard for the welfare of others. This way has often been characterized by Mr. Herbert Armstrong as the way of “get.”
The second way is God's way - steeped in humility: Those who live this way are motivated to have outgoing concern for the good and welfare of others. They are committed to making life better for other people, and are devoted to helping them to maintain a positive right relationship with others and with God. Their motivation is to live according to the royal law of loving ones neighbors as oneself, submitting to God in all things and letting God's Holy Spirit lead them. This is the “give” way, the way the Eternal God lives.
With this in mind, as we approach Passover, it should behoove each one of us as God's chosen, to carefully evaluate our relationship with one another in the light of God's law of love, [outgoing concern for others] and repent of any arrogant, selfish, superior, inconsiderate, spiteful or envious attitude we may hold toward another flesh and blood human being, who struggle just as we do with life's trials.
We know Jesus Christ was perfect and sinless in all His ways, yet He was willing to give of Himself for us. He was willing to be lied about, hated, despised, spat upon, slapped and be lacerated because He and God the Father love us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). With humility He did this for us, because He loves us and was willing to suffer for us even while we were still sinners and yes, behaving selfishly, arrogantly, foolishly and at times hatefully. Christ was willing to suffer for us so we ultimately might be able to repent and change! Throughout His Word, He is showing us how we are to think of others and how to live and get along with others.
God the Father has called us into a new way of thinking and living, with the help of His Holy Spirit. The truth of His Word, which He has given us through His Holy Spirit, is truth that must be put into practice. It is not knowledge alone, but applied knowledge that is important. It is one thing for us to know and understand the truth of God's Word, but God requires that we use that knowledge by living by it. Humility forms the foundation for making that knowledge come to life.
A prideful attitude prevents one from receiving the grace of God. We are told, “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). A prideful attitude is not a repentant attitude. A prideful attitude sees itself as already righteous, having no need for the mercy of God. A prideful attitude sees itself as superior to others. This kind of attitude will not condescend to the humility necessary to admit error. In other words, it sees no need to change. This attitude looks upon others as inferior and less important and certainly sees no need to sacrifice it's own personal desires or wants for the good of others.
On the other hand, is the attitude that is able to receive the grace of God - the humble attitude, having genuine humility. A person with a humble spirit does not view him or herself as superior to others, but is concerned with how they can help make the way easier for others. People with this attitude, like Christ, are not afraid to sacrifice their own desires for others.
When looking honestly at our own personal motivation in our relationship with others as Passover approaches. The Apostle James was inspired to write. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:7-10).
We need to repent if we hope to have the mercy of God extended to us, and remove all arrogance, prideful, selfish, indulgent barricades which we have set up between us and God's throne of grace.
God does not force us to repent yet. At this time repentance must be completely voluntary. True repentance reflects a total submission to God and His will. Unconditional surrender!
Ask yourself before partaking of the Lord's Passover: am I holding any grudges? Are any of us talking against someone else? Again, the Apostle James has something to say about this. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judge another?” (James 4:11-12).
The Apostle James makes clear, speaking evil of one another is sin. Judging others is usurping God's prerogative. God takes the matter of judging and speaking against others seriously! Take time and reflect on the following scriptures: Psalm 50:20, Psalm 101:5, II Corinthians 12:20, I Peter 2:1 and Romans 14. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matt. 7:1-3).
As we examine ourselves before Passover, let's look deeply into what is motivating us in the way we conduct our relationship with others. Let's be willing to look at ourselves honestly and take whatever steps are necessary with God's help to begin the process of binding up old wounds. Let's stand ready to forgive one another. Let's be willing to forbear one another. Let's take the initiative, in true Godly humility, to strengthen all our relationships. Let God's Holy Spirit in us lead us to be peacemakers. Christ, speaking to His disciples at the Sermon on the Mount said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).
James Russell