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Morning Thoughts |
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Philippians 4:8, "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." This morning, my thoughts have turned after observing some discussions around the office today. Many times, we "have" to think about things that we would rather not, and due to work and other considerations, our time is spent in things that are less than desirable. For example, I would venture to say that all of us loath having to think about bills and other expenses, but should our thoughts never give them any consideration, we would be in dire straits indeed. Our minds cannot be continually given to thinking about heaven, for our earthly duties would suffer as a result. Now, heavenly thinking should be first and foremost, but we are required to give attention to other matters as well. So, what we end up being the most apt to discuss discloses a great deal about where our thoughts revolve the majority of the time. As my natural father used to say, "You do not have to ask people very much what interests them. Just a little bit of patient listening will quickly tell you where their heart is." Our Lord said that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) So, by observation of people's habits, we learn a great deal about their treasure, heart, and thoughts by what they say (even though we cannot be the final judge of all things). In today's climate, most people these days are discussing the upcoming election and all the "bells and whistles" that go along with it. Others are discussing the budding season of fall sports and all the associated things that accompany it. Still others are discussing their families, jobs, and future vacations or other recreational activities. Most (if not all) of these things are things that we think about from time to time, but what should govern and overarch our speaking and way of life? Paul says (finally) to the Philippian brethren to think about rather different things than those. Where our thoughts are, there will soon our speeches be. What we think about is what we talk about, and if our conversation is greatly bent to these other matters, it tells off on us that our thoughts are given to these things. Paul said to think on these things, and when we think on them, soon we will be speaking of them. There is no harm in thinking often of our families and secular duties, for they require our time and consideration. There is no harm in researching candidates in an election time to discover who the best candidate is, and there is certainly no harm in having recreational activities of sports, vacation, or otherwise. The harm comes when these things crowd out the most important thing of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When thinking about Him and His finished work, we find many associated things to that subject that Paul lays out. It escapes my mental recesses to think that the thought of the free, rich grace of Almighty God could or would encourage slothfulness in the individual. If Biblical pattern means anything (and it does), grace is always followed by encouragement to good works and Godly living. The inspired writers of Holy Writ were moved by the Holy Ghost to immediately follow God's goodness with our responsibility. So should our thinking of grace be, and if it is not, then we have not thought of grace as it ought to be. True thinking of grace brings the fire and desire to say, "What must I do? How can I serve Him better for all His benefits and mercy to me?" So, the first thing that must be thought of is things that are true. There is not much profit in dwelling on lies, as lies bring the subtleties of deception with them. Thinking about lies too much will bring thoughts of, "Well, is that really all that terrible?" My father, while working in banking, had an analogy that went something like this: "When tellers are trained at a bank, they are not shown all the various forms of counterfeit bills that we know about. There are more out there than we have ever seen, and it would be foolish to expect them to remember all the ones that we show them. So, we give them the real thing enough, over and over, so that they recognize the counterfeit by the way it looks, feels, or smells." So, our thoughts need to be given to the "real thing" so much that we recognize counterfeit currency when it is passed our way. The natural proceeding from things that are true are things that are honest. One might reasonably inquire, "What is the difference?" The difference between truth and honesty is quite simple and yet quite profound as well. Speaking the truth for the wrong reason is not honest, but honesty is not only speaking the truth, but doing so fitly and acceptably. Solomon said that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Proverbs 25:11) The preacher sought out acceptable words (Ecclesiastes 12:10), and honesty is not only the truth but the right motivation and manner behind it. So, whatever we do or think ought to be true, but just as reasonably, it ought to be honest as well. When people consider the household of faith, they should not stop at saying that the folks have the truth, but that they are honest as well. The proceeding of thought continues into things that are just. After considering things truthfully and honestly, we must be just about them as well. The word just speaks of things being approved by God or righteous and fair. Therefore, we must be fair and righteous in our thinking and dealings, for the truth does not do much good if there is not justness coupled with it. Thinking about just and righteous things is acceptable and approved by God, for He is the Just and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26) Thinking about things that are just requires that we focus our minds on the Just Himself and all His righteousness as declared by the Holy Scriptures. The next part is things that are pure, and purity is something hard for us to fathom as impure creatures living in an impure world. Purity requires 800 spotlessness, as one minute trace of imperfection ruins the definition of purity. Again, to find purity, one must be at the source of all things pure. When our minds dwell on impurities, we will eventually (whether we like to admit it or not) start showing the impurities of the thoughts. (James 1:13-15) Simply put, to be pure, one must be made pure by the only Pure One, Jesus Christ. But, for that one that has been made pure by the Redeemer, by His shed blood, we need to seek to purify ourselves in daily living according to the great hope that He has given unto us. (I John 3:3) Again, grace does not lead to ungodly living, but everyone that feels the burden of their impurities seeks to purify themselves in action, knowing that Christ has done so in position. Then, Paul addresses something that is harder and harder to find these days: lovely. Things that are lovely are pleasing to us in one way or another. Young men speak of their intended as being "lovely," and that mindset should remain for all their years together as man and wife. Our minds, naturally, think of certain things as lovely such as roses, but the things that are truly lovely are the things that do not pass away or fade with time. Given time, a rose's bloom fades with the season, and our natural looks (for those that have them) fade with age and years. But, the loveliness of Christ never fades away, nor does His rich truth and gospel. What He said 2000 years ago is still as lovely as it is today, and His Person is still as lovely as He has been from all eternity. Our Beloved Bridegroom will never ever fade from the beautiful description of Him in the Song of Solomon. All those rich tones of love from the bride to Him will remain just as lovely for all eternity, and the beauty that He has given unto her will remain as intact for all eternity as well. Together, we the bride will dwell with Him our Husband in the pavilions of heaven with all things being lovely and royally clad. So, should our thoughts be minded to lovely things today. Finally, the things above must be of good report. When something is true, that is a good report, and when something is honest, that is a good report. Just, pure, and lovely things are of good report, for a good report has a certain and sure distinction to it. When a band plays in tune, there is a sound they make together that displays the properness of the execution. When we think upon all the things above, there is a properness in the delivery that brings a certain sound to it. The truth as it is measured by the delivery makes the presentation good and sure. If there is virtue or praise to be found, it is in these things for our thoughts. So, what are we thinking most about? A little time observing our own speeches will show forth where our minds dwell. Therefore, while we must live in the world and think upon things that require natural attention, may our dwelling (mindset) be most often on these things. Our speeches will surely follow these thoughts, and by implication, so shall our steps be. When someone sees wrong steps, tracing back will find wrong speeches, and further still there will be wrong thoughts at the heart of the matter. May our speeches be alway seasoned with grace and charity so that we show forth the mindset of true, honest, just, pure, and lovely things of good report. In so doing, we show honour, virtue, and praise to the One that has richly given us grace and mercy both in this world and in the world to come.  In Hope, Bro Philip |