February 15
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THINK OF THESE THINGS
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9
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Paul gives us a guideline of what thoughts we need to let our minds think about. Not everything that comes to our minds should be entertained or dwelled upon. In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul instructs the believers how to examine these strongholds or thoughts and mindsets that goes against the knowledge of God and make them captive to obey Christ. According to sources, the letter to the Corinthians were written AD 55-56 and the letter to the Philippians were written AD 60-62. So, Paul is continually teaching believers that renewal of the mind is essential in our walk of faith. In this letter, he enumerates in detail what thoughts are approved by God. These are the following things that God wants us to focus on:
1. Whatever is true (accurately lining up with God’s truth)
2. Whatever is honorable (honest and fair, deserving of respect)
3. Whatever is right (what is morally good, justified and acceptable to God)
4. Whatever is pure (free of corruption or contamination from the world system)
5. Whatever is lovely (delightful, gracious, harmonious)
6. Whatever is commendable (outstanding, exemplary)
7. Whatever is excellent (magnificent, skillful)
8. Whatever is praiseworthy (good report, admirable)
Are most of our thoughts qualify as the things that God wants us to think about? Aren’t we most inclined to listen to lies from the world system? Aren’t we stingy to give affirmation? Don’t we live compromised lives that do not proclaim what is right? Don’t we praise delightful acts and behavior of others? Don’t many of us become envious of people who do outstanding acts and we do not commend them? Don’t we encourage those who does excellently and instead find things to criticize about people? Don’t we talk about good report or admirable things? Paul constantly reminds us that we need to focus on these thoughts so that we are not going to be defeated by the enemy’s tactics.
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REFLECTION
• Which among this list of things to think about do you struggle with? Why?