Things to Think About

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)

The first thing that came to mind when I read this is that not everything that is true are things we should be focusing our minds on. A lot of bad things are true, but our minds are not to be set on what is bad and what is evil and what is not of God. But our minds are to be set on what is of God and what is holy and righteous and godly and morally pure, etc. So, the truth that we are to be focused on is what is of God and what is wholesome and good.

And what is honorable is what is moral, decent, proper, upright, good, fair, righteous, admirable, praiseworthy, and respectable in the sight of God, and not necessarily in the eyes of human beings. For this is the opposite of what is dishonorable, which is what is vile, sleazy, despicable, contemptable, evil, depraved, improper, corrupt, immoral, and dishonest. So our minds are to be set on what is honorable, not on what is dishonorable and sleazy.

Whatever is just is what is fair, impartial, objective, correct, moral, ethical, good, appropriate, proper, reasonable, sensible, honest and honorable, etc. – all in the sight of God and not according to the reasoning of human beings. And whatever is pure is all that is unblemished and unadulterated by the world and by sin and its trappings and desires. For pure is what is wholesome, clean and spiritually and mentally healthy in the eyes of God.

And whatever is commendable must be measured by the word of God and not by the thinking and reasoning and values of human beings. It must be what God regards as praiseworthy, worthy of him, admirable, and laudable in the eyes of God and according to the teachings of the Scriptures. And excellence must also be measured by God and by his word and not by humans. For the flesh of man doesn’t regard excellence (quality, merit, distinction) in the same ways in which God does.

So, what all this really comes down to is thinking like God thinks, with his mindset and with his values, and with his purpose and reasoning, etc. We need to have the mind of Christ and not minds which are clouded and cluttered with the thinking, values, and reasoning of human flesh. So we must feed our minds on the things of God and not on the things of the flesh and not on the values and thinking of this sinful world.

And then Paul said that what we have learned and received and heard and seen in him, these are what we are to put into practice in our lives, and the God of peace will be with us. And please don’t measure Paul’s life by what he said in Romans 7, which is often misconstrued and thus used by people to excuse away their sinful lifestyles. Read Romans 7 in the context of Romans 6 and Romans 8 and in the context of all of Paul’s writings.

For Paul led an exemplary life to the point to where he could encourage others to follow his example. He had not reached absolute perfection, for none of us will be absolutely perfect (complete in Christ) until Christ returns and he takes his faithful ones to be with him for eternity. For that is when our salvation will be complete, and not until then. For all of us who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ are in the process of being saved and sanctified and purified and made holy in the sight of God, by the grace of God.

But Paul lived a holy life free from the control of sin over his life. So when he taught that we must die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we must no longer walk in sin or we will not inherit eternal life with God, he modeled what he taught with regard to how we are to live as followers of Jesus Christ. For we are to be those who are walking in obedience to our Lord, and not in sin, who are living holy lives to the glory of God, by the grace of God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

Things to Think About

Video Talk

September 12, 2023

https://youtu.be/XTBai1Y6Z34 

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When I Go Home

By G. M. Eldridge

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” Revelation 21:4

In the moment He appears

And the light from heaven shines,

I’ll forget ev’ry fear,

Ev’ry pain I’ll leave behind.

Then I’ll see Him as He is

And I’ll know Him as I’m known.

Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

Ever present is the tho’t 

That a moment waits for me

When unworthy as I am,

His glory I will see.

I will empty all my praise

Before my Father’s throne.

Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

If the trial I endure,

And your presence I can’t find,

Be near me, Lord, I pray,

Bring back unto my mind

That your promises are firm

And I’m never on my own.

Ev’ry tear wiped away when I go home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z98Zvr1CyXg 

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