New Testament Challenge Companion--Day 33!

Friday, February 26 Read Luke 12 and Philippians 3-4 Focus on Philippians 4:8-9

Another of my favorite brief Scriptures is found in Philippians 4:8-9.  Let’s look at it here: ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NIV This is the Apostle Paul’s “short course” on how to have a positive attitude AND the God of peace or the peace of God (the Greek text allows for either translation!) to be with us.  Paul’s recommendation if we want those things is for us to THINK about eight kinds of things.  Let’s look at each one:  Whatever is true.  A long time ago, I learned a statement:  Truth is in order to goodness.  In other words, truth leads to goodness in our lives.  We can’t have positive attitudes or God’s peace if we base our lives on lies.  Focus on the truth.  Live in the truth and life will be much more meaningful.  Whatever is noble.  What does it mean for something to be noble?  Dictionary.com defines noble as “distinguished by rank or title.”  In our case, the rank or title is that of God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Paul could have said, “Whatever is godly.”  We need to elevate our thoughts to the level of godliness, and keep our thoughts out of “the gutter.”  Nobility elevates US to the level of godliness as we think on it and practice it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Whatever is right.  Paul offers us a helpful addition to truth.  Some things are true, but they aren’t right.  We need to think on things that are true AND right.  When we focus on the truths of God we will always be focusing on what’s right. Of course, as with each of these eight characteristics, Paul’s ultimate goal is for us to DO as well as THINK about these things.  Whatever is pure.  Pure means without spot or blemish.  Pure means that our thoughts are absolutely wholesome. You may be thinking, “How do we think like this ALL the time?”  The answer is, “We only think like this ANY time in the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we let the Holy Spirit lead in our lives, these traits become part of us—in a purer and purer form.   Whatever is lovely.  Lovely may mean a number of things, but in this case Paul means both those things that are aesthetically appealing, and those things that reflect the nature of God.   Whatever is admirable.  Here we focus on things that are admired.  This may be quality workmanship, or quality effort, or quality design, or anything that is being or doing what it was created to be or do AND that adds value to our lives.  If anything is excellent… Here Paul reminds us that our goal is not just “good enough,” or not just getting by, but the best we have to offer—or the best that God has offered us.  Excellence is always the goal, and when we see it, we ought to think and reflect on it, if we want God’s peace or the peace of God in our lives.  If anything is praiseworthy.  Simply put praiseworthy means worthy of praise.  Here Paul is not only referring to God, who is the only one worthy of our praise in the ultimate sense, but also anything that is worthy of affirmation, because it reflects the workmanship or attitude of God.  Thus, our efforts may be praiseworthy when we have carried them out in truth and righteousness, with excellence.  May our lives be lived in such a way that we THINK on these things and LIVE them as well!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for having the Apostle Paul compile such a powerful list of qualities and actions about which we are to think.  Motivate us to see these qualities in our lives and to think on them, and also to live these qualities so others may be able to see them in us, think about them and give the praise to You!  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.