I was coerced to blog anyway amidst my shame. Thanks roommate!
God knew that I would learn something of value to post here after an intense new game I learned to play last night...
Ok, ok, so not so intense... but a game that came into existence the same year I did and clearly is the reason why all those who played it have good, Christian morals and values ingrained in them...
Generosity!
"An exciting, action-filled game uniquely designed to reinforce Christian values through real-life situational play. A thrilling challenge for the whole family."
Two things I would like to comment on about the description of this game before I move on: "action-filled game" ... for sure! You got to go head to head in throwing down the "help your neighbor" card before anyone else to help pay for "real-life situational plays" of the other players ... which brings me to my next comment: "real-life situations" ... purchasing TRAINED FLEAS for $2000 will hopefully never be a real-life situation for me in the future... but it was last night. I don't know what you all did in the 80's but I hope you weren't throwing down G's for trained fleas (you like that rhyme??!)
So anyway, the best part about the game was that every time you helped your neighbor pay for something, had the opportunity to tithe, give to church or a charity... you had to draw an "attitude card" which decided what kind of heart you were giving your money away with... basically a right or wrong attitude, but some of the cards worded it differently. If your attitude was RIGHT you got to put the money you were giving away in your "heavenly treasure chest" that you were "storing up". If you had a WRONG attitude, you had to give your money to the bank and it was gone from your sight for good. You end up winning the game if you have the most money in your "heavenly treasure chest". You want the right attitude cards.
I wish God could throw down an attitude card every once in awhile to keep myself in check. Or maybe even people who I love and who love me to throw it down when I need it... which I do have so I am blessed indeed to have accountability in my life!
But I was reading Philippians 1 this morning... and I kept reminiscing about the attitude card. Why?
Paul writes this letter in jail. BAM! God threw down at attitude card for me! If I was able to give Paul an attitude card when he wrote this, he would get the right attitude card. He is so honored to be in jail because he knows that the gospel was spreading and people were becoming confident in the Lord. He would rather be in jail if it meant the gospel was increasing in the land.
He is encouraging the Philippians to ONLY live their lives "in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ. A life standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well--since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have." Philippians 1:27-30
Basically, this is what it means to live your life with the right attitude card.
I mean you read in Philippians 2 to have "the same attitude of Jesus" and what that looks like... but here is a charge to the church in Philippi to not ever give up! Because it is a blessing for you to even know who Jesus is!! So it is an honor to suffer for Him!
Would I follow Jesus if I didn't live in the easiest country to be a Christian? Or, if Christianity wasn't the popular faith to have? And to think, that I have to throw down the bad attitude card all the time. I don't even really suffer! MAN.
And Paul has the right attitude card of the century! In jail!
I am convicted. What kind of attitude card to you get as you live a life for Christ?
Pam
No comments:
Post a Comment