John 8:1-11 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

While we frequently hear warnings of the dangers of temptations, it will not ultimately be your temptations that destroy you, because God understands temptation. It will not ultimately be your sin that destroys you, because all have sinned. No, it won’t be your temptation or sin that dooms you; it will be your attitude.

Satan had the first bad attitude and was cast out of heaven along with his followers. Ever since then, God has had a hatred for bad attitudes. All throughout the Bible we find mercy extended to people who struggled, for those who were tempted and fell to that temptation. We find mercy extended over and over again for sinners. Jesus never rebuked or condemned the common sinner who came to him seeking mercy or forgiveness; He forgave the woman caught in adultery, forgave the harlot who washed His feet, forgave the publican who climbed a tree to see Him. No, Jesus directed the full force of his wrath at the religious people with rotten attitudes. On the outside they appeared righteous, but they were rotten in their core. They had a holiness after the manner of men, but not according to God.

Mat 15:7-8 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Their actions appeared righteous, but their attitudes were not right.

Mat 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Of the seven things that God hates in the sixth chapter of Proverbs, at least five are directly related to attitude. He lists a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, feet swift to run to mischief, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, a false witness, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.

We are all human and make mistakes. We are all tempted. We all fail from time to time. Sometimes, we sin. The difference between those who succeed in God’s kingdom and those who fail is not mistakes or failures or sin; it is attitude. Attitudes make all the difference.

Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

The thief on the cross was saved, while many religious leaders of his day rejected Jesus and died lost. The only difference? His attitude:

Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Attitude enabled the woman with the issue of blood to press through the crowd and touch the hem of His garment. Attitude enabled the Syrophonecian woman to brush aside the objections of Jesus’ disciples and His own rebuke of her to receive healing for her daughter.

Mat 15:26-28 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

I love my children, and have no desire to hurt them or to punish them. Sometimes I punish them because it is necessary, not because I enjoy it. Likewise, God loves His children, and He wants to forgive:

2 Sam 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

It is almost impossible to recover water spilled on the ground, yet God makes a way to redeem us

Ezek 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ultimately, if you die lost it won’t be your sin, your doubt, or your lack of faith that dooms you, for God understands all of these things. It will be your attitude. Will you surrender to Him today?