Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commen-dable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.– Philippians 4:8

The Greek word translated think about in this verse signifies make those things the subjects of your thoughtful consideration, or carefully reflect on them Vines Expository Dictionary page 628) Holy thoughts lead to holy living.  Coarse jesting, and reading or viewing immoral materials, and evil thoughts lead to the kind of person we will be.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.    Luke 6:45

In Philippians 4, 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. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Philippians, page 506)

Without these no ideals can exist. They are pertinent now when so much filth is flaunted before the world in books, magazines and moving-pictures [and the internet] under the name of realism (the slime of the gutter and the cess-pool). (A.T. Robertson, The Epistles of Paul, Philippians, page 459.)

There are two levels of thinking.  One is “Cotton Candy” thinking.  We recognize this thinking by phrases “I think, I believe”.  Pat Robertson was asked, if baptism meant immersion.  His answer: in Bible days they immersed in water, but “I don’t think it is necessary today.” We don’t fare much better.  Second, Paul set out the limits of thinking on things that are inherently true by their nature.  That is, “true” cannot mean anything but truth. To do so is to turn the idea into a lie.  It cannot be otherwise.  The other virtues are inherently what they are and cannot be otherwise.  Justice is that and to change it is to pervert it and it becomes unjust, and so with the other things.  Paul admonished us to think on these things.  We become what we think according to God’s Word.  So, to be pure, honorable, and lovely we must think on them and all God says to us.  To think on evil things is to become sons of Satan.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19:14

Kris Bull and Ralph Taylor