5/26/10 Philippians 4 & Colossians 1
Thinking Like Christ
(Php 4:8)8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Paul tells the Phillipian church that they are to have the mind of Christ. (Read yesterday’s blog) In chapter 4 Paul specifically names some women who are encouraged to live in harmony. He specifically asks others to help procure this harmony or unity among them. These women shared with Paul in the cause of the gospel. In order to have this harmony there will need to be the attitude which was present in Christ from chapter 2; humility and obedience.
Paul then encourages the church to rejoice. They have much to rejoice in because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Upon receiving the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ everything else that was prized and cherished in life is now rubbish because a relationship with the Jesus is far superior (Phil 3:8). They can rejoice in their current citizenship being in heaven and are awaiting their Savior’s return at which time he will transform their bodies in to conformity with the body of His glory. (Phil 4:20-21). They have much to rejoice in and again I say rejoice (Phil 4:4).
Along with this working toward harmony and rejoicing, Paul instructs them to have a gentle spirit. This is to be toward not just one another, but toward all men. Have you been displaying a gentle spirit toward all men? They are not only to display a gentle spirit, but they are not to be anxious and handle everything by prayer.
Then Paul mentions how the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds and he mentions how this is to be done in a practical way. In essence how do you think like Christ? Well, here is a good starting place. Think on things that are true. Think on things that are honorable. Think on things that are right. Think on things that are pure. Think on things that are lovely. Think on things that are of good repute. Think on things Christ considers excellent. Think on things that Christ considers praise worthy. This is how we can think like Christ.
Too much of our thinking or should I say not thinking (amusement) is done upon just the opposite of these things. Consider your metal diet in your media choices. Much of the media we consume is focused on lies, such as models, physical beauty, cheating; on dishonor such as disrespecting parents; on things that are bad, like murder, theft, immorality; on impure things such sensuality, pornography; on things unlovely such as divorce, hate, murder, unjust criticism; on things of bad repute like cursing, vile words, slander, gossip; on things not excellent or praise worthy there are a host of things. The odd thing is what our culture and society deems excellent or praise worthy is in so many ways what we are not to think on. Do you think there is a spiritual battle going on for the mind? The power of media has the ability to conform our minds away from the very things that we ought to be thinking upon. But the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12).
Prayer: Father help me to think on the things listed about. Give me the discipline to think and to think deeply on the things that Christ would think. Cleanse my mind from the graffiti that is upon my mind now. I ask that the Holy Spirit would prime and freshly paint on the walls of my mind things that are excellent and praise worthy. Give me discernment in a day when confusion between good and bad, right and wrong abounds. Fill my mind with your wonderful words, the words of life so when I speak in conversation your words will overflow from the abundance that is in my mind. I want to think like Jesus, but I cannot do it on my own and ask for you to motivate me, in Jesus name. Amen.