8 Finally, 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.
In our verse for today Paul mentions several items which are to serve as sieves or filters for our thoughts as well as for our words. What we put into our mind – what we continually dwell on – will come out in our actions and words. This list of attributes is given for our benefit, equipping us to have both a wholesome thought life and a wholesome word life. To “think” means “to put together with one’s mind, to count; to occupy oneself with reckonings or calculations; to reason”. (Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids.) We are to dwell on things above or as Paul states here, the excellent and praiseworthy. All of our thinking is to be put into the context of God’s standards.
“Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God...Maintain a holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares, wishes, or longings, under any pretext.” St. Francis de Sales
God places a high priority on our thoughts and our words as “whatsoever a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. Our mental wanderings often reflect our highest priorities as well as our deepest worries and our words will reflect what is stored in our hearts. Out of the overflow of a man’s heart his mouth speaks. God is keenly aware of our innermost thoughts and motives – even those that we perhaps are able to mask from others. Scripture tells us the Lord searches and examines our hearts and minds. The motives behind our actions being very important to Him:
10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jer 17:10 (NIV)
“You might not be what you think you are, but what you think, you are.” Anonymous
Jesus also tells us the greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind. If this be the greatest command, it stands to reason that our thoughts should be as He instructs:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt 22:36-38 (NIV)
“All love...casts the mind into the mold of the thing beloved.” John Owen
Proverbs also tells us:
29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. Prov 21:29 (NIV)
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Prov 21:23 (NIV)
“Sanctification is the mind coming more and more under the Holy Spirit’s control.” David Jackman
We are to watch the input – what goes into our minds – what we place before our eyes, what we listen to with our ears, we can often control. This greatly affects our thinking. How frequently we allow our world to control our thoughts and desires getting us nowhere fast. And God says to us – “Dwell on Me”, “Think about things above not on earthly things”, Dwell on whatever is sincere and authentic; whatever is awe-inspiring and attractive; whatever is just and upright; whatever is uncontaminated, virtuous and innocent; whatever is pleasing and beautiful; whatever is appealing and wooing; whatever is outstanding in moral goodness and excellence of character – highly esteemed by others; and whatever is commendable. This is possible through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit for every believer in Jesus.
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor 4:2 (NIV)
“Belief is truth held in the mind; faith is fire in the heart.” John Henry Newman
“A Christian, being only a traveler through the world, must expect a traveller’s fare; bad roads sometimes, bad weather, and bad accommodations; but since his journey’s end and city are in heaven, all his actions, sufferings, prayers, trade, and conversation turn that way. O Lord, grant that mine eyes may always be fixed upon this mark, so as to regulate all my designs and doings accordingly; asking myself in everything, whether it be fit for heaven, and agreeable to the mind of the heavenly Bridegroom, and to the manners of the heavenly citizens.” K. H. Von Bogatzky