Watch That Attitude

“…But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” – Luke 24:16 KJV

The above reference talks about a period just after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Two of the disciples, unaware of his resurrection and still pondering over what had happened on their seven miles walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus were joined by Jesus Christ. He walked along with them but they did not know him so much so that he was even addressed as an ignorant visitor by one of them. The scripture said they were kept from knowing him. However, He was privileged to listen into their conversation as they related to him their testimony of the events that just happened. The narration presents the following take homes:1. Jesus was privileged to hear first hand about how people close to him rate him and the events that happened to him and was most likely happy with what he heard. What is your expectation if you are to hear the true assessment of your person by close associates? Will their testimony make you feel happy or very sad?2. Should you have to give a testimony like those disciples were doing, about a close associate in his/her absence, how much of it will be a true and sincere assessment of the person?Whatever was used to keep them from knowing him was really effective because even his attempt to refresh their memory failed as they still did not wake up from their enforced amnesia but what eventually woke them up was their attitude of care and in this case for a total stranger that they just met.They were not only interested in the safety of this stranger but also hosted him well and those were the keys that opened the locked door of awareness and knowledge. They could have lost this opportunity of solving the mystery and confusion they found themselves in had they not put up the right attitude at that moment.Has it occurred to you that you remaining in that stagnant state could be the result of your attitude. Your help surely came but you did not recognise it because you failed the test that was to unlock the door of recognition with your negative attitude. Many Christians lost opportunities of breakthrough in life or remained static in life because of wrong attitude to the right person or situation at the right time.This is not about who you were or used to be but who you are at a specific moment in time. God is not interested in what you used to be but what you were at the time of assessment – Ez. 18:20-24. You use to be a giver but did not give at that critical moment to the right person could just be the reason for the delay in realising that long term dream just as negative attitudes like arrogance, egoism, pride, rudeness, etc. could just be the obstacle to recognising your help when it walked up to you.Just as they received awareness and wisdom as they were giving him, you were likewise supposed to be the recipient of that good that you have long desired because of that bad attitude. Your humility was probably what you needed to lift you up just as that your good manner of speaking to and/or receiving people was probably your preparation for the positive reception you were expecting at that your next job or promotional interview.We may never know whether it was the usual thing with Abraham to take care of strangers (Gen. 18:2-21) but at that critical time when it mattered most, he cared and was adequately rewarded with a long awaited request. We are not sure either whether it was usual for the Shunamite woman to show that amount of care she showed to Elisha at that critical moment (2Kg. 4:8-17) and she was blessed with what she had lost hope of getting, all because of a right attitude to the right person in the right circumstance. What you need to open the gate to that long awaited request could just be the wisdom to know what to do or not to do, who to do it to or not to do it to and when to do it or not to do it. That may just be the beginning of living that life that you have always desired and prayed for.May God help us to remove that veil that is stopping us from recognising the life changing opportunities of our life and people relevant to those times so we can put up the right attitude to move us forward in life in Jesus name. Amen.