Think Upon These Things

What does it look like to be a strong, solid, faithful Christian in our world today? How can we stand firm while living in a world that is getting darker daily in many ways – a society that is redefining and distorting Truth – a culture that not only promotes tolerance, but labels Christians as “haters” for believing in, and abiding by, a different standard?

Maybe the answer starts with our minds.

What goes in our minds, what goes on inside them – what we think about and how we think, directly influences our attitude and our actions.

While there are a number of passages in the Bible that talk about our minds, one that I’ve camped out in lately is Phil. 4:8-9.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 (dwell on) such things. ⁹ Whatever 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.

We should note that verse 8 starts with the word “finally,” indicating that Paul has already given some instructions and encouragement to the Philippians.

• He’s told them to rejoice and not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present their requests to God.
• And then the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

That’s our immediate context for what follows in v. 8.

The fact the Philippians were encouraged to be intentional about managing their thoughts implies that believers can, and should, exercise control over their thoughts.

Friends, we think about A LOT of things each day. I have a feeling my husband groans inwardly every time he hears me say, “Babe, I’ve been thinking…” 😊

There is so much that goes on in our minds. And we need to ask ourselves if we are exercising control over what we think about – about what we let in and what we keep out – about what we allow to stay in and what we push out. And how that effects our behavior and interactions with others.

What starts the list in v. 8? Think about whatever is: TRUE

When we think about whatever is true, we can’t help but think about the one true God, the Creator and epitome of truth, and His Son, Jesus.

In John 18:37, we read about an interesting conversation between Jesus and Pilate about the notion of truth.

 ³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate responds, “What is truth?”

In Biblical times as in present day, truth is questioned (think postmodernism) – despite being evident all around us.

• Romans 1:20 says:  ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Not only has Truth been (and continues to be) questioned but it was (and still is being) suppressed.

• Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…”

• A few verses later in Romans 1:25, we read, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”

Sounds like today’s times too, doesn’t it?

There is a battle going on for Truth. Have you heard the expression, “your truth?” The idea that truth can be subjective no longer makes it TRUTH! It makes it an OPINION. There is no “your truth.” Something is either true or it’s not.

The Enemy is trying to take what is black or white and make it grey. He’s blurring the edges of truth in order to distort it, twist it, and make it appealing for the masses.  

Truth, like light, reveals things and the Enemy doesn’t like that. Truth has a standard and he doesn’t like that either.

Going back to our text in Philippians,

• Paul isn’t instructing the Philippians to be DWELLING on all the small and trivial things of life but rather to be DWELLING on the greatest things of all, the truths about God and Christ. (Adapted from Maclaren)

• The same can be said for us. We know we need to give some thought to the grocery list, our daily tasks at work, at home – planning our days and weeks, and our To-Do lists. But can’t we so easily get bogged down in thinking about all those things that we miss out on DWELLING on what is TRUE – Our Lord and Savior?
  • When we get bogged down in all the minutia or the list that’s longer than hours in a day, what starts to creep in? Anxiety.

• In the verses preceding this passage, we read that Paul encouraged the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

As we consider this idea of dwelling on the truth, we might be tempted to believe that we just need to work on what goes in and out of our minds and that will be enough. By doing that, we’ll be strong, solid Christians in today’s world.

• But we can’t stop there. Why? Because thinking leads to doing. You see Paul isn’t telling the Philippians to think about these things just to think about them, but to actually transform their character.

• When we, like the Philippians, dwell on whatever is true, it flows out into our actions with others – in our relationships, in our workplace, into our worship of God – and that’s exactly what is meant to happen.

• Believers are called to worship in truth:
  • John 4:24 tell us, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

• This is how we continue to look more like Jesus.

Let’s look briefly at the other things that Paul encouraged the Philippians to be dwelling on. The passage goes on to say:

“Whatever is noble or honest” – the idea here is things that are venerable or worthy of great respect. It’s a difficult word to translate but implies a seriousness. It’s not just about honest dealings with others but even one’s own character. Much like the previous one, (truth), it’s not just something that takes place in our minds, but rather, flows out into our actions and behavior.

“Whatever is right or just” – this has a sense of how believers deal with or interact with others – in a manner that is right. This one is about integrity, and it ties in seamlessly to the next word on the list which is “pure.”

So far, it seems the list of what the Philippians are to be thinking about or dwelling on, has a lot to do with the formation of and maintenance of their character.

“Whatever is pure” – in thought and in body. The idea for the Philippians here is to keep themselves undefiled and to keep themselves from the pollution of sin. The same admonishment applies to us today.

“Whatever is lovely” – for this one, I enlisted the help of Barnes Notes on the Bible. This was worthy of quoting directly.

“The word used here means properly what is dear to anyone; then what is pleasing. Here it means what is amiable – such a temper of mind that one can love it; or such as to be agreeable to others. A Christian should not be sour, crabby, or irritable in his (her) temper – for nothing almost tends so much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed; a brow morose and stern; an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to find fault with everything…”

In Suzie’s words, “What’s a crabby Christian going to do for the cause of Christ?”

“Whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” – I liked what Barnes Notes had to say about this one as well.

“Whatsoever things are of good report – That is, whatsoever is truly reputable in the world at large. There are actions which all people agree in commending, and which in all ages and countries are regarded as virtues. Courtesy,… kindness, respect for parents, …, and the Christian should be a pattern and an example in them all.”

Our verse says, “If there is anything excellent or praiseworthy” – essentially if there be any virtue – If there is anything truly virtuous. Paul didn’t give an exhaustive list here, so he includes anything else that had the nature of true virtue in it as something the Philippians should be careful to cultivate as well.

As believers, we should be a pattern and an example of every virtue.

The passage concludes with, “Think on these things.” In other words, let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them. Again, it’s not just what goes on in our minds – as if it were to stop there. It’s to flow out into our actions and interactions.

And when we think on these things (and practice them), what happens?  The peace of God will follow. And that makes sense, right?

As I’ve shared before, when it comes to living out the Christian life – there are things that God does and there are things that we do.

God will give us peace. That’s what He does. We must do our part in bending our minds to that which is worthy (God Himself), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.” That’s what we do.

When we put that into practice, just as Paul instructed the Philippians, the Bible tells us, “The God of peace will be with” us.

As we think about applying what we’ve learned, I liken it to when I first meet someone. I often don’t remember that person’s name. Do you know why? It’s because I don’t always TRY to remember.

What would happen, if we TRIED to think on whatever is true, whatever is noble, and so on? Can you imagine what some purposeful, intentional TRYING would do?

This, my friends, is one way we remain strong, solid Christians in our world today.

With this in *mind*, let us go be radiant this week.