The Daily Word

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In our consideration of Philippians 4, Paul comes to the last cluster of exhortations for practical Christian life, and this concerns our thoughts, so Paul concludes this section with the words we must remember as we look at each of the exhortations, “Think about these things”. 

When Paul says ‘think about these things’, he really means, to the exclusion of anything that would be the opposite of the positive exhortations! So, our minds must not dwell on the negative but exactly on the things Paul goes on to mention. So, picking up faults and mistakes, within the church at Philippi particularly, is not what Paul wants. A negative critical attitude is one which should be avoided.

Following the first 3 moral qualities that we should emphasise in our Christian walk, Paul now lists three more qualities which refer which are almost artistic, mindful or sensual qualities which we should look for, those which please the senses, “Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatsoever is admirable….”. 

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’. If our spiritual senses are clouded by earthly, and possibly unclean, thoughts and interests, then our relationship with God will suffer because He is absolute righteousness. 

In that same Sermon, Jesus said, ‘Set your affections on things above, which are incorruptible’ Our spiritual home is in Heaven and that is where our heart should be focused.

‘Admirable’ is a difficult quality to define in words but we all fully understand its meaning. It is words and actions that stem from higher motives and is really associated with service. To do and say things that really uplift others and give to others, to the exclusion of selfish interests. Strangely, when we perform such acts, without any other motive, our hearts are warmed within us. Jesus said, “what you have seen me do, that is what you must do”, to follow in our Master’s footsteps, all the works He did were always truly admirable. 

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church 

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