"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
(Philippians 4: 8, KJV)
In my last blog entry I wrote
about a quote I had recently written on my face page on Facebook. It had to do
with the practice of disciplining our minds to think correct thoughts that
affect our hearts and lives. Then I referred to God's Word as one of the best
ways of doing that. From there I mentioned two people who objected to the quote
I had written on my face page, which lead to a couple exchanges. Anyway, read
my previous blog and you will see for yourself what I am talking about. Now in
this blog I will be briefly looking at Philippians 4 : 8
"True"
-- or genuine, honest, and sincere. We should concentrate on honesty in all
our dealings, for, "God is
true" (John 3:33), and Christ said, "my record is true" (John 8:14).
"Honest"
-- or better, honorable toward all. Strive to "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty" (1 Timothy 2:2).
"Just"
-- or equitable. "Masters, give
unto your servants that which is just and equal" (Colossians 4:1).
"Pure"
-- without spot or stain. "Neither
be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22).
"Lovely"
-- literally, "towards love," i.e., those things which
demonstrate love or a response of love. This word only appears here in the New
Testament.
"Of
good report" -- that which elicits praise.
"Virtue"
-- a standard of righteousness. He "hath
called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3).
"Praise"
-- our speech should be to "the
praise of them that do well" (1 Peter 2:14).[1]
As we can see from Dr. Morris'
exhortation above, we need to get our thought life under control. We need to
learn that we "have been bought with
a price...[we] are not your own" (1 Cor. 6: 20, 19). This means our
thoughts are not our own. We are answerable to someone and that Someone is God!
So if we are truly Christians, that means we do not live unto ourselves, but
rather we are to live unto the Lord our God. Hence, the command is issued at
the end of the verse in this verb tense "think
on these things" which means we are to cultivate a daily habit and
make meditating on whatever is honoring to God in our thought life a way of
life. May the Lord help us do that daily.
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