SHARING BREAD
8 Finally, 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.
Phil 4:8
(NIV)
In our verse for today Paul mentions several items which are
to serve as sieves or filters for our thoughts as well as for our words. What we put into our mind – what we
continually dwell on – will come out in our actions and words. This list of attributes is given for our
benefit, equipping us to have both a wholesome thought life and a wholesome
word life. To “think” means “to put
together with one’s mind, to count; to occupy oneself with reckonings or
calculations; to reason”. (Hebrew
Greek Key Word Study Bible – New
Testament Lexical Aids.) We are to dwell
on things above or as Paul states here, the excellent and praiseworthy. All of our thinking is to be put into the
context of God’s standards.
“Whatever
happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God……Maintain a
holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares,
wishes, or longings, under any pretext.”
St. Francis de Sales
God places a high priority on our thoughts and our words as “whatsoever
a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. Our
mental wanderings often reflect our highest priorities as well as our deepest worries
and our words will reflect what is stored in our hearts. Out of the overflow of a man’s heart his
mouth speaks. God is keenly aware of our
innermost thoughts and motives – even those that we perhaps are able to mask
from others. Scripture tells us the Lord
searches and examines our hearts and minds.
The motives behind our actions being very important to Him:
10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the
mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds
deserve.” Jer 17:10 (NIV)
“You might not be what you think you are, but what you think,
you are.” Anonymous
Jesus also tells us the greatest commandment is to love the
Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind.
If this be the greatest command, it stands to reason that our thoughts
should be as He instructs:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the
Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment.” Matt
22:36-38 (NIV)
“All love…casts the mind into the mold of the thing
beloved.” John Owen
Proverbs also tells us:
29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man
gives thought to his ways. Prov 21:29
(NIV)
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself
from calamity. Prov 21:23 (NIV)
“Sanctification
is the mind coming more and more under the Holy Spirit’s control.” David Jackman
We
are to watch the input – what goes into our minds – what we place before our
eyes, what we listen to with our ears, we can often control. This greatly affects our thinking. How frequently we allow our world to control our
thoughts and desires getting us nowhere fast.
And God says to us – “Dwell on Me”, “Think about things above not on earthly
things”, Dwell on whatever is sincere and authentic; whatever is awe-inspiring
and attractive; whatever is just and upright; whatever is uncontaminated, virtuous
and innocent; whatever is pleasing and beautiful; whatever is appealing and
wooing; whatever is outstanding in moral goodness and excellence of character –
highly esteemed by others; and whatever is commendable. This is possible through the enabling power
of the Holy Spirit for every believer in Jesus.
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we
do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by
setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God. 2 Cor 4:2 (NIV)
“Belief
is truth held in the mind; faith is fire in the heart.” John
Henry Newman
“A Christian, being only a traveler
through the world, must expect a traveller’s fare; bad roads sometimes, bad
weather, and bad accommodations; but since his journey’s end and city are in
heaven, all his actions, sufferings, prayers, trade, and conversation turn that
way. O Lord, grant that mine eyes may
always be fixed upon this mark, so as to regulate all my designs and doings
accordingly; asking myself in everything, whether it be fit for heaven, and
agreeable to the mind of the heavenly Bridegroom, and to the manners of the
heavenly citizens.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
What
I glean from this:
· I am to dwell on things above not earthly things.
· What I allow my mind to think on affects my actions
and words.
· I am to give thought to my ways and to guard my
mouth.
