For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:8   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.

As I was considering the approach to this verse, my automatic first thought was to provide a definition and example for each word within this list of thought contents Paul is describing here for the Christian. That may have been a good approach, but then I started to think about the layers of meanings within the list. You know, the foundational thought contents, such as truth and honor that Paul was providing for the believer, and that as the list progressed, each of the couplets of thought contents only became rarer, possibly harder to find in this old world.

Let me explain. We, as believers, should have a grasp of the truth, for we are to be students of the Word and the Word is truth. Out of that truth, we surely can find honorable things to think on.
From the precepts and principles of the Word, our task is to understand the truth to determine what justice and purity is, and from that determination, judge that which is lovely and commendable. Further refinement of our thoughts include a test of excellence and praise, the highest form of Christian thought.

You may notice that as the topics a believer is to think on are described, the range of correct thought content narrows. This should be of no surprises to the believer, as we are not to have an “open mind”, accepting all messages about all topics, but to have a discerning mind, not only filtering out unacceptable thoughts, but also refraining from accepting those thoughts we have been exercised to reject.

A simple example may help.

As I have come to know a friend, I have found that he has many qualities about him that define him. Each of these qualities, by my determination are true. He is a giving man, a man of compassion, a man of service. And yet if I am honest, the truth also bears witness that he is a man who exaggerates the truth, who tells stories and “amplifies” his message unnecessarily. Each of these qualities are true, and if Paul stopped the list with only “Think on whatever is true” I would be justified in dwelling on not only his good but bad character traits.

Paul does not allow us to do that, for he filters out those things that are not honorable, not just, not pure, not lovely, and not commendable.

In providing this list, Paul has two things in mind per my understanding. Filter out that which is non-Christlike in our thinking, and Focus on Christlike thoughts.

When I dwell on this verse, an Old Testament verse comes to mind in providing the result of this type of thinking.

Proverbs 23:7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you….

The true quality of the man is found in his inwardly calculating, not in his outward message. If we change the way we think, we actually come into harmony with the will of God and become the people of God that He can use.

And yet, this is a restricted, might I say self guarded way of thinking, that is our responsibility to perform and maintain. The exercise of thinking this way is surely reflected in what we consume and dwell on during the day. Our consumption of true but negative things surely misses the mark, as the consumption of true but ugly things misses the mark.

Yes this is a restricted, some may even say a closed mind approach to our thoughts, yet we all know that there are evil, sinful and destructive ideas floating in our world that are only intending to pull us down.

Consider what you feed your heart and mind my friend. It will be either a blessing or a burden to you, in your efforts to dwell on those things described in our passage today.

One more thought. This list is truly an amazing list of filters for the believer, but consider this list in the description of the thoughts of our Lord. His thoughts are continually dwelling on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise.

Are we in tune with Him, and is He finding your life one of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness… It would be to our benefit, not only to practice this for our life on this old globe, but also to provide our Master with content from our lives to dwell on.

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