Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
I don't know about you, but there are days when everything looks black and gloomy. You know what I mean? The days when nothing goes right....the days that do go right, but you just feel restless and blue. Not yet being the perfect missionary wife (I am working on it!), I have occasional days where I just "muddle through." It is then that the Lord reminds me of Philippians 4:8! Yes, I can already hear the groans over that long list of things that we are suppose to be thinking about! If it weren't for knowing a chorus for that verse - I would NEVER be able to remember all those things that I am suppose to be thinking about! Let's see....things that are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...good report...any virtue...any praise...and then the command - "Think on these things."
Isn't it comforting to know that if we will just avail ourselves of them, God has cures for every ailment we have! Many times, I remember too late - then I have to scramble to "catch up" in my spiritual life! But have you ever noticed verse 9 in Philippians chapter 4? "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." The Lord pointed out verse 9 to me a couple of weeks ago, and I was impressed by the fact that God leaves no one out of the responsibility to do right - "learned, received, heard, and seen"! But this morning, I read that verse again in light of verse 8. "Those things..." Hmm...just what are "those things"? I realized this morning that "those things" are not just the things we learn from the Bible or things we've heard growing up in church. "Those things" are the "whatsoever things" of verse 8! (I'm kind of slow sometimes to catch these truths - forgive me!) What a promise God gave us if we will obey verse 8 - "and the God of peace shall be with you." Wow!
"...True...honest...just...pure...lovely...good report...any virtue...any praise, think on these things."
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