Think About It...Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians 4:8-9
8Finally, brothers, 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 such things. 9Whatever 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.

Paul engages two elements of humanity in this paragraph (after engageing affections in the previous one...although he hits affections at the end here as well).
1. Our minds...
- Paul, really as a wrap up statement to all that he has been talking about, moves us to our thinking or meditation. We are to focus on what is excellent or praisworthy...essentially what reflects the character of God. In our culture this is not easy. We tend to celebrate that which is not God...take a look at the contrast in Galatians 5 and compare the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit. Than take a look at Much Music's top 10 countdown of videos...If we are to sit around with our minds turned off, simply taking in our culture through media, focusing on what is excellent or praisworthy as defined by God, is going to be difficult. Lord, may I focus on You. I love You Father.

2. Our actions...
We live in a world where we do not want to take responsibility for our fellow human beings. It seems that every celebrity who makes a mistake etc. and are challeneged on their position of role model, tend to try the old..."I'm nobody's role model", "I'm not responsible". But Paul does not. He commands the Philippians to follow after him, to live like him. I think that humbly we need to also think a little more like this. I need to be reminded that I am not simply an individual in this journey of life, but rather I am a part of community, and I have a responsibity and role to play in our community...especially with those who are younger. Father, I pray that I would follow after Paul as he follows You, and that I would live in such a way that others could glorify You by following me. By your grace Lord...

Finally, If we watch our minds and actions, it will absolutely affect our affections. Paul says that the peace of God will be with us...I wonder if the reason so often I don't have peace is not because God is not here, but rather I am not there? I am not where what is excellent or praisworthy is being displayed. I am not seeking to live as I should...I cannot expect peace to magically appear unless I am placing myself in a position to experience it. Lord, I surrender to You. I pray that You would convict me where I need to be convicted, so that I could put myself in a position to experience Your peace. I love You Father...