What Are You Thinking About?

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

⁸ 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. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Devotion:

            What do you think about when you have some downtime? These days, our thoughts are easily hijacked by social media or other entertainment sources. We are complicit in letting our thoughts wander in ways that, while maybe not wicked or evil, are, at best, unproductive. In this passage, Paul has given us some direction on what we should think about. It is attempting to follow this advice that we find very difficult.

            These days, trying to determine what is true and false to think about can be a full-time job. Election years like the one we are currently in will feature many claims that stretch the truth past the breaking point. We also have problems with the rest of the virtues on this list. Paul must have known what sources he could have had for things that provoked these virtuous thoughts. What were those weapons for his readers to understand what to do when tempted to meditate on evil and unproductive thoughts?

            Paul elsewhere advises his audience to have a transformed mind. How can someone transform their mind? The advice that is given is to fill the mind with scripture. Scripture memorization is a practice that has fallen out of favor in many of our churches. We should reclaim it with the advice that mere rote memorization is not enough. We must let that scripture change the way we think and act. The simple act of doing things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, etc., will transform the mind in ways simple memorization cannot.

            In verse 9, Paul urges the Philippians to imitate him! How many of us would dare to ask people to follow our example? Thomas A’Kempis wrote a little book called “The Imitation of Christ,” calling Christ's followers to read the gospels with the idea that the reader should follow the ways and words of Jesus. Most of us realize the tremendous difficulty we would have in following Jesus. Difficult, indeed impossible, in the flesh.

            So, we must ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit for such imitation to occur. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we can do as Jesus asks and follow Him. Let us pray for such a filling by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

            Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. We want to follow you. We want to think thoughts that honor you and cause others to ask what gives us the power to act according to your will. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Let us be known as Christ's followers by our thoughts and actions. Amen.