Thursday, August 29, 2013

Philippians 4:8-9

Passage

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is of good character, whatever is just, whatever is pure without defect, whatever is pleasing, whatever is worthy of approval, if it is of virtuous quality and praiseworthy: ponder these things.  And what you all learned and received and heard and seen in me: practice these things.  And the God of peace is with you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul gives us a laundry list of things to ponder.  The word Paul uses here for pondering is a word that means “to think logically” or “to reason.”  This word is etymologically connected to our English word “logic.”  When we are thinking, reasoning, in control, and following God – these are the things we should consider.  Of course, I have to think back over my past.  How often have I not been interested in truth or justice or good character or purity or pleasing God or my worthiness of God’s approval or virtue or my praiseworthiness?  If I’m not first concerned about those things, how will I ever do the actions that lead to those things?

How often do you ponder the things of God?  How do you ponder the things of God?  How does focusing, thinking about, or reasoning about God help you in life?

Second Thought:

Paul doesn’t only focus on thinking about God; he also focuses on living out the faith.  Paul is clear in his directive to the Philippians.  Where they have seen God in Paul, heard God through Paul, received God through Paul, and learned about God from Paul – these are the things that they should put into practice.  Hear we see brilliantly the practice of Christianity.  Learn information, imitate behavior, and innovate into your own life.  That’s what the disciples did with Jesus.  It is what Paul is encouraging the Philippians to do through him as well.

From whom do you learn?  Whom in this world can you imitate because you can see Christ in them?  How do you innovate God’s behavior into your life?

Third Thought:

God is with you.  In one sense, it is fitting to say this after we’ve spoken about that which we ponder and practice.  When we ponder and practice the presence of God, of course He is with us!  But if that is all, then it makes God sound rather self-serving!  No, God was with us while we were still rejecting Him.  God was with us when we were rebelling against Him and running away from Him.  God was with us when we were running into our own desires.  He was calling us to Him.  Of course He is with us when we are with Him.  But the reality is that He is with us when we have our backs to Him as well.  How great is our God!

When has God been with you even if you weren’t interested in being with Him?  When has God been with you and you knew it all along because you were with Him in return?


Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 4:10-13

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