Think!

Think!

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. Philippians 4:8 KJV 

The Context and Focus:

It is of course the Bible's position that 'as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he'. That truth has been established over the centuries, and as the years have come and gone, this truth continues to hold its ground. At the heart of all that a man can achieve, is the power of his thoughts. If a man already is defeated in his mind, unable to encourage himself to face the challenges and overcome them, he is already defeated. However, if the same man is able to overcome the limits set up in his mind, he is able to face the obstacles placed in his path and then achieve the success he had planned all along. This is why the heart and mind are so critical to what a man is or becomes. It is not a wonder, then, that the wisest man who ever lived said: 'Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life'. The heart is the battleground for all the thoughts that fill a man, daring him to process all and come to the right decision and action. To make matters even more complex, these decisions and actions have eternal consequences and cannot be taken lightly or without consideration of the eventual outcome. 

The Message:

It is wise to consider that this earth is just for a season; I cannot afford to focus only what I can get from this earth, and ignore the other bits that are critical to eternity. This is where today's verse is so important. As always, it defines the audience to whom the verse is addressed: brethren. These are people who have made the decison to surrender their lives to Jesus, and are on the path to eternal life. It is God's plan that once I am saved, I remain on the path until he returns for me, or calls me home. Unfortunately, as it has been seen several times, a man does not always remain committed to the path. Distractions come, and they sometimes succeed in taking the eyes off Jesus unto other things. If I am a child of God, I must depend on Him on a daily basis to remain true to my Lord, Saviour and Master. Surrender to Him means taking hold of and depending on the grace He has supplied in abundant measure to remain true. His grace supplies the right information at all times, as well as the strength required to take the right step, but as always, God does not compel anyone to follow Him. 

The Conclusion:

It has to be a decision taken of my own freewill, so that my love for Him is borne out of a heart that has considered all options, and found Jesus to be the best. Reflect on what the verse above says: true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report. If there is any virtue, or anything worthy of praise, because they point to God's nature or attributes, these are the things to think about. Consider that some of the things mentioned above are God's nature and attributes. He is pure, and He is true. This would mean that I must spend time reflecting and pondering on how I can be more like God, and when, by His Spirit, I know how to, I must take the steps to so do. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. How else would they know this God if those who claim to know Him do not show Him off? How else would He be known if his nature is not revealed by those who claim to be His own? My thought life will eventually be made manifest by my actions. I can pretend if i want, but eventually, the contents of my heart will be revealed. I ask God for grace to invest time in the things that matter, so that I can be all He wants me to be. God's time of favour is here.