What am I Thinking?
I can safely accuse myself of often thinking the wrong things about my present situation. It never fails, I am always putting everything around me into a bad light. Not only that but I seem to always not have the best in mind for those around me. I fear constantly for the situation that I am in and yet the Lord has shown me time and time again that He has my best interest in mind. That is the essence of what Paul is talking about in Philippians chapter four.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB)
[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is *lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, *dwell on these things. [9] 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.
For us to dwell, or think about, the opposite of these things is to put what the Lord has done for us in a bad light to the rest of the world. Don't forget, we are not of this world. Paul practiced what he preached and that should give us pause, because he indicated that his audience should practice the things heard and learned while he was with them. How often is it that we fall back to the old pattern in our lives. If we were grouchy before we came to know Him we practice grouchiness after. We somehow have forgotten that things are now different and that our lives are now tied up with Him. These words in Philippians indicate a whole new way of thinking about things. In Romans chapter twelve we get the same push to change our mindset.
Romans 12:2-5 (NASB)
[2] And do not be conformed to this *world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may *prove what the will of God is, that which is good and *acceptable and perfect.
[3] For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. [4] For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, [5] so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Interesting, this idea of renewing our minds seems to take place within the body of Christ. Just what I need - to think kindly of the people that I go to Church with. But if we really look at the logical consequence of this, Church becomes the training ground by which we learn to treat others in a Christ like way. It is much easier to practice what this verse in Philippians talks about with those of the faith because we know that they are being changed from moment to moment to be like Christ. So looking at the best in them should come naturally. That in turn will spill over into our relationship with the world. They will see that it really is different with us, and perhaps they will ask us about the hope that is in us. Evangelism 101.
1 Peter 3:15-18 (NASB)
[15] but *sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a *defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and *reverence; [16] *and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. [17] For it is better, if *God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. [18] For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the *spirit;
- LW
Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB)
[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is *lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, *dwell on these things. [9] 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.
For us to dwell, or think about, the opposite of these things is to put what the Lord has done for us in a bad light to the rest of the world. Don't forget, we are not of this world. Paul practiced what he preached and that should give us pause, because he indicated that his audience should practice the things heard and learned while he was with them. How often is it that we fall back to the old pattern in our lives. If we were grouchy before we came to know Him we practice grouchiness after. We somehow have forgotten that things are now different and that our lives are now tied up with Him. These words in Philippians indicate a whole new way of thinking about things. In Romans chapter twelve we get the same push to change our mindset.
Romans 12:2-5 (NASB)
[2] And do not be conformed to this *world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may *prove what the will of God is, that which is good and *acceptable and perfect.
[3] For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. [4] For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, [5] so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Interesting, this idea of renewing our minds seems to take place within the body of Christ. Just what I need - to think kindly of the people that I go to Church with. But if we really look at the logical consequence of this, Church becomes the training ground by which we learn to treat others in a Christ like way. It is much easier to practice what this verse in Philippians talks about with those of the faith because we know that they are being changed from moment to moment to be like Christ. So looking at the best in them should come naturally. That in turn will spill over into our relationship with the world. They will see that it really is different with us, and perhaps they will ask us about the hope that is in us. Evangelism 101.
1 Peter 3:15-18 (NASB)
[15] but *sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a *defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and *reverence; [16] *and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. [17] For it is better, if *God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. [18] For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the *spirit;
- LW