The spirit of an individual is seen in the way they act, move, facial expressions, and even the way they look. We should know and remember that the world is looking at us as Christians. Our spirit is seen by the way we act, the way we conduct our business, tone of voice, etc. Consider the Christian spirit.
Picture in your mind the Christian spirit. What does that look like? Oh, everyone should have an opinion on this, and some freely express it from time to time. What should a Christian be in spirit?
The Christian should be the happiest person on earth! Why? Sins forgiven and revelation received as to what this life is all about. A Christian shouldn’t be one who growls and grumbles all the time. A Christian shouldn’t be mean-spirited in business, or nagging all the time. The children of God are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4). Be happy! You’re among the wealthiest of the world—a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Christians should be a friendly people (Rom. 16:16), especially to one another. Ever visited a congregation and the folks just peered at you? No one offering to say hello or introduce themselves? How’d that feel? It doesn’t feel good, so the golden rule compels us to be better than that to one another (Matt. 7:12; Heb. 13:1-2). Jesus laid this principal down in the beginning in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:43-48). The apostle Paul had to learn contentment (Phil. 4:11), this may be insightful for us and worthy of our consideration. Work at being friendly!
Do you remember this one: “Be kind one to another” (Eph. 4:32)? Oh yeah, it’s in there. Parents should be kind to their children, and children to their parents. Brethren should be kind to one another, and Christians should be kind to the man on the street, the neighbor, and those whom you meet. Some days it takes a little more effort than others, but it is required by the “Manual of Christian Living.” It is a wonderful compliment to be known as a kind person.
Think just a moment about what it must have been like to have been with Jesus when He was here on earth. Ever thought about that? Since He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), He is the perfect example of the Christian spirit. Was he a complainer with a bad attitude? You know He was not, because even complainers think it’s a bad attitude. Some who wear Christ’s name never seem to be right. Always complaining, “a poor little ole me” attitude and never satisfied. Jesus was persecuted far more than anyone, yet never a record of Him complaining. He asked the Father for relief from the cross “if it be possible” (Matt. 26:39), but humbled Himself to the will of God (Heb. 12:2). A whining, complaining Christian? No, that’s not Christ. Perhaps the one who suffered most, next to Christ, was the apostle Paul, He wrote these words: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14). Jesus was not a complainer, neither should we be.
Do you have the spirit of Christ?
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
