What Kind of Filter do you Use?
8Finally, brethren, )whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)
8Finally, brothers, 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.
The best way to combat lies the world tells you, Satan tells you and you tell yourself, is to know the Truth. And, you have to study God's Word in order to know what's in it. Gulp. Yep. That osmosis thing ain't working. Thinking you know Who God is and what He says, as He freely and plainly revealed to us in His written Word - just by attending Youth Group and Sunday Morning Worship is kinda like getting up every 5-10 minutes to get snacks or go to the restroom when watching some 2 - 2 1/2 hours long movie: you'll catch snippets of the movie, but you won't see the whole picture and how the movie ends won't make much sense if you haven't watched it from the beginning. And, your friends can fill you in on what you missed...but it isn't the same as watching it yourself. Or reading God's Word for yourself!
What we choose to watch, listen to, engulf our time in pursuing really has an effect on the lies we own and act upon. Don't believe me? Try not watching Gossip Girl for 30 days and see how out of the loop you feel when your friends are discussing it. Lie: to be cool and "in the know," I have to watch what everyone else is watching. We'll save the content of Gossip Girl for another time...however, the lies come heavy and thick when watching shows targeting young people (the largest consumer base for clothing, food, drink, electronics, etc.).
Speaking of content...what filter do you use to determine what is going to build you up and not tear you down? Enter, Paul's suggestion in Philippians 4:8. This morning, I read Clarke's Commentary on the key words used in this verse. Check it out!
The object of the apostle is to recommend holiness and righteousness to them in every point of view; and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its professors to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as he himself also walked. That they were not to attend to one branch of righteousness or virtue only, but to every thing by which they might bring honor to God, good to their fellow creatures, and credit to themselves.Finally, brethren -
Whatsoever things are true -
Ὁσα - αληθη· All that is agreeable to unchangeable and eternal truth. Whether that which is to be learned from the nature and state of created things, or that which comes immediately from God by revelation.Whatsoever things are honest -
Ὁσα σεμνα· Whatever is grave, decent, and venerable. Whatever becomes you as men, as citizens, and as Christians.Whatsoever things are just -
Ὁσα δικαια· Whatsoever is agreeable to justice and righteousness. All that ye owe to God, to your neighbor, and to yourselves.Whatsoever things are pure -
Ὁσα ἁγνα· Whatsoever is chaste. In reference to the state of the mind, and to the acts of the body.Whatsoever things are lovely -
Ὁσα προσφιλη· Whatsoever is amiable on its own account and on account of its usefulness to others, whether in your conduct or conversation.Whatsoever things are of good report -
Ὁσα ευφημα· Whatsoever things the public agree to acknowledge as useful and profitable to men; such as charitable institutions of every kind, in which genuine Christians should ever take the lead.If there be any virtue -
If they be calculated to promote the general good of mankind, and are thus praiseworthy;Think on these things -
Esteem them highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently.
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