Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Philippians 4:7-9.
When a lawyer (expert in Biblical law) asked Christ to name the
greatest commandment, he replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt 22:37).
We are to love God
with all our heart (the center of our affections), with all our soul (our
spirits), and with all our mind (the center of our intellect,
understanding, and thoughts).
In Romans 12:2 Paul
called upon disciples to be transformed “by the renewing of your mind.”
Our minds must be submitted to Christ.
The ancient Greeks and
then the Romans had much to say about virtue, living with moral excellence. It
meant aligning oneself as much as possible with what is true, just, good, and
beautiful. This includes having a virtuous mind. Paul and other Christians
argued that even unbelievers had God’s moral law written on their hearts (Rom
2:15). They asserted, however, that believers have an even greater capacity
than did pagans for virtuous living, doing and thinking what is pleasing in
God’s sight, because they have faith in Christ.
In Philippians 4:8
Paul lists six things upon which the upright believer should settle his mind.
This is positive teaching, not negative. It is a “Thou shalt” rather than a
“Thou shalt not” kind of instruction.
First, whatsoever
things are true. Christians care about the truth. They don’t want to bear false
witness. What a refreshing notion this is in a world where there is so much
fake news and so many biased perspectives that one wonders if anyone cares
about the truth.
Second, whatsoever
things are honest [semna, venerable, respected, admirable]. Our
consciences condemn us if our thoughts are not upon that which is honest.
Third, whatsoever
things are just. This word relates not only to justice but also to righteous.
We should think on that which is right in the Lord’s sight.
Fourth, whatsoever
things are pure. Out mind should rest on the uncorrupted rather than sullied
and filthy things.
Fifth, whatsoever
things are lovely. The word is pros-phile, promoting or orienting one
toward love to God and neighbor, and especially to the brotherhood of
believers.
Sixth, whatsoever
things are of good report (eu-phema). In our fallen state we tend to
love bad reports. We like the sensational, the macabre, the titillating. But
what if our minds were re-oriented by Christ to seeking about news of that
which is good?
He closes: “If there
be any virtue (moral excellence), and if there be any praise (praise of God,
that which bends one toward the ways of praising and extolling the Lord), think
on these things.
Coming to Christ
changes our minds. It calls for us to think upon things that are pleasing to
the Lord. There is a battle for our minds (our intellect, understanding, and
thoughts). May the Lord have the victory in this and every area of our lives.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jeff Riddle
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