Finally Whatever Things Are Good - Pt 2
Doing good things for others and thinking about good things should make one pretty calm. But I have an issue in that I teach and others in the congregation will probably be watching. Does he practice what he says? Maybe I am being paranoid but in effect I think that I am on the right track for this subject. I mentioned another passage in Philippians that seems to echo what I am to do:
[Phil 4:8] 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.
I am told to dwell on the good things. It is very easy to get drawn away into controversies that make you angry with your brother/sister in the Lord, but that is apparently not where the Lord wants us to focus. We should dwell on things that are honorable, things that are true, etc. When the Lord looks at those who have taken the name of Christ and have accepted His salvation for themselves he sees a finished work, not the unfinished product that we normally dwell on. I find myself often asking forgiveness from another brother / sister because I was too brash with them. If I had only concentrated on what was good and noble about them I wouldn't fall into the trap. Since I am an older man in the congregation I am supposed to set an example to imitate. I am supposed to have learned more about the Word of God over the years and I am supposed to be able to teach others. That is the essence of being an "elder". There are obviously other qualifications for the office of elder but at the very least we should be more mature in the Lord. Is it a struggle to get there? Of course. But, others also witness the process of growing in the Lord in someone who as it were has already arrived.
I am still working through my own salvation to come to the place that the Lord wants me to be. I cannot help but wonder what else is in store as I try to imitate my Lord.
- LW
[Phil 4:8] 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.
I am told to dwell on the good things. It is very easy to get drawn away into controversies that make you angry with your brother/sister in the Lord, but that is apparently not where the Lord wants us to focus. We should dwell on things that are honorable, things that are true, etc. When the Lord looks at those who have taken the name of Christ and have accepted His salvation for themselves he sees a finished work, not the unfinished product that we normally dwell on. I find myself often asking forgiveness from another brother / sister because I was too brash with them. If I had only concentrated on what was good and noble about them I wouldn't fall into the trap. Since I am an older man in the congregation I am supposed to set an example to imitate. I am supposed to have learned more about the Word of God over the years and I am supposed to be able to teach others. That is the essence of being an "elder". There are obviously other qualifications for the office of elder but at the very least we should be more mature in the Lord. Is it a struggle to get there? Of course. But, others also witness the process of growing in the Lord in someone who as it were has already arrived.
I am still working through my own salvation to come to the place that the Lord wants me to be. I cannot help but wonder what else is in store as I try to imitate my Lord.
- LW