Think On Jesus

"... think on these things." Philippians 4:8

THE HOLY SPIRIT was sent to remind us of Jesus, to bring back to us the truth of the Word of God (Jesus is the Word). Putting His Word in our heart is what changes our thinking. Soon, we respond to people, to difficulties, and challenges differently. I always mention myself yelling at cars when driving, as an example along this line. One day, the Spirit tugged at me to stop, so I began to think about it differently. I chose to stop, and now I rarely react that way. I have also changed my thinking about people. I see them through Jesus’ eyes now. He has so much love and not one word of criticism. You will never hear condemnation from Him.

Philippians 4:8 follows Paul’s instructions in verses 6 and 7 on how to have peace beyond understanding. This is peace so strong, so full, that our minds can’t grasp it. First, we let go of our anxiety and speak to God, placing our hearts in His hands. We give Him thanks for who He is, because it is our belief in His faithfulness that brings answers to prayer. He delights to answer. Then we deliberately and on purpose, as my mother would say, put healthy thoughts in our heads. We say no to yelling at the kids and exercise patience. We deliberately turn off the TV and choose to play a game or do a puzzle. We lean on the Spirit of God in us to change our behavior. He is good at reminders. The best part is there is no condemnation in Him. He will correct us lovingly without us ever feeling anything but His love for us.

The words used in Philippians 4:8 all point to Jesus. Though our thoughts may be on something lovely in our spouse or something just we saw in a friendship, though we may think of the good report we got from our job, what it is meant for us to see is what Jesus said, who He is. The following list gives a study guide. I hope you’ll print it and meditate on it.

(Philippians 4:8) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

• True, loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful (from, not hidden, not ignorant, not unaware)
• John 14:6 “I am the truth.”
• John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive”
• John 17:17 “Thy word is truth.”
• Honest, to reverence, honourable of persons and deeds (from, revere, worship)
• Matthew 2:2 “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
• Matthew 2:11 “…and fell down, and worshipped him.”
• Matthew 8:8 “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”
• Matthew 28:17 “And when they saw him, they worshipped him.”
• Just, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God, innocent, faultless, guiltless, acting wholly conformed to the will of God, approved, holy
• Mark 14:36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
• John 5:30 “I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”
• 1 Peter 2:22 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”
• John 4:14 “I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.”
• Acts 2:27 “neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
• 1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
• Pure, exciting reverence, sacred, pure from every fault, immaculate, clean (from, a most holy thing, saint)
• Matthew 1:18 “When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
• Matthew 3:14 “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”
• Hebrews 12:10 “that we might be partakers of his holiness.”
• Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
• Lovely, acceptable, pleasing (from, phileo, to love, to treat affectionately or kindly, to be friend to)
• Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
• Matthew 11:19 “a friend of publicans and sinners”
• John 15:15 “but I have called you friends;”
• 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind”
• Good report, sounding well, uttering words of good omen, well spoken of, reputable, (from, fame, report, a saying, [from, to make known one’s thoughts to declare, to say])
• Isaiah 53:3 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
• Luk3 10:19 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”
• John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
• Virtue, moral excellence, as modesty, purity; moral goodness of thought feeling and action (from, male)
• Isaiah 53:9 “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
• Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
• Matthew 21:5 “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”
• Praise, laudation, a commendable thing, (from, to extol, to sing praises in honor to God, to promise or vow, (from, a saying, proverb, laudatory discourse)
• Matthew 12:42 “and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here”
• Luke 2:13 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,”
• Luke 2:20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
• 1 Peter 4:11 “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
• Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you”
• Acts 2:33 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
• Think, to take into account, to make an account of, to weigh the reasons, to gather or infer, to determine, purpose, decide, to take an inventory, estimate, conclude, count (from, logos, a word of speech)
• John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word”
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
• Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay



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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com