What kinds of attitudes please God?

Romans 14:17-19The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

Romans 15:5-6May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is pleased with an attitude that puts the welfare of others ahead of our own preferences. We want to contribute to a holy harmony in all our relationships.

Ephesians 4:21-24Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

God is changing us from the inside out, starting with our thoughts and attitudes. With his help, we can actually think ourselves into a new way of living and live ourselves into a new way thinking. What’s most important is that we not yield to our sinful nature, which makes us want to go back to the old way of living that was harmful to us. Choosing this attitude pleases God.

1 Peter 4:1-2So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

God is pleased with an attitude that endures suffering. Leaders often suffer for the sake of those they lead. This suffering may come from spending longer hours, carrying the heavy burden of difficult decisions, doing what is right but unpopular, or knowing information about people and circumstances that they wish they didn’t know. Leaders will also suffer because of their own shortcomings and failures. Regardless of the reason, Christian leaders have the model of accepting suffering as Christ did. A humble spirit that accepts the hard things honors God.