Think Differently (Philippians 4:8)

Philippians 4:8 says " 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."

What does that even mean? What does it mean to think on these types of things and more importantly as Christians are we being obedient to this exhortation from Paul? The more I studied the idea that Paul was talking about in this specific passage and the more that I myself evaluated the way in which I live this out, the more convicted I became. The whole idea is that what goes in our minds is what is going to come out in the way we live.

Paul lists the following things that we should be meditating/thinking on...things that are:
-true
-noble
-right
-pure
-lovely
-admirable (above reproach)
-excellent
-praiseworthy

Much of the sanctification and walk of the Christian is determined by the mind, the internal rather than the external. Romans 12:2 talks about the "renewing" of our minds and 2 Corinthians 10:5 talks of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This is a difficult thing. It is easy for us to get caught up in the things of this world and to begin to think like the world, but as Christians we must think differently. We must think on things that are edifying to all and glorifying to the Lord, we must think on things that are not going to take our minds into temptation and stumbling, we must think on things that are TRUE and that is on things of the Lord.

The more we think about this the more we realize how easy it is to fail. What if we measured or held up every thought to this verse and standard? Can you imagine how radically our thought life would change and then in turn how much the way we lived would change too?? We as Christians need to begin to think differently then this world as we are transformed more into the image of Christ...and here in Philippians 4:8 we have a great list to keep us accountable.