“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
What ever is:
- true
- noble
- right
- pure
- lovely
- admirable
- excellent
- praiseworthy
Think on such things.
I want you to take your time and read through those words again slowly. Think about something in each of those categories.
When we run across lists like this in the Bible, lists like this always point to more things like this. The Greek and the Hebrew did not have an “etc.” The way Greek and Jewish writers would express “etc.” is to make a list of like things. The implication is that other like things apply.
The second thing is that the verb “think” from “think on these things” is written in the imperative. It’s a command. You see, we don’t accidentally think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, etc. Our brains are not wired that way.
That’s why you can have hundreds of neutral to positive interactions with people in a day, the one that sticks is the negative encounter: the guy that flipped you the bird on Bridgeport Ave., or the rude barista, or the argument you had with your spouse, etc.
You don’t even have to work on thinking about such things. They already rule your thoughts.
That’s why we are commanded to think on these things.
You know why? Because if you don’t fill your mind with God’s truth, the devil will fill your mind with his lies of fear, anxiety, worry, stress, anger, jealousy, temptation, etc.
So, this day, think instead on these things.
