Think On These Things
1. Good Things We Can Think On
2. The Peace Of God
3. The Word Of God Is True
4. The Only True God
5. The Truth Shall Make You Free
6. Whatsoever Things Are Honest
7. Living A Life That Is Just
8. Just A Few More Familiar Verses
9. A Pure River
10. Ways We Can Be Pure
11. Think On Things That Are Lovely
12. Things Of Good Report
13. Looking For Good News
14. My Sins Are Forgiven
15. God Is Good
1. Good Things We Can Think On
It’s hard to watch the news. With the war overseas, the fighting among people in our own nation, and the conflict of good and evil, the media doesn’t fall short in giving us the pictures, up close and personal. I try to keep up with what’s going on, but I don’t spend a lot of time, glued to the screen. I pray for many, and I feel for those in trouble, and it can be discouraging and maybe even dangerous to stay focused on the bad in this world. The Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi, “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) I want to look into God’s Word and talk about some of the good things we can think on.
2. The Peace Of God
Philippians 4:8 begins, “Finally, brethren…” As we begin these devotionals on, “Think On These Things”, let’s look at the preceding verses, before the “Finally…” These are some great things for Christians to think about, not only those who lived 2,000 years ago, but also for all of us living today. Rejoice, don’t worry, and be thankful and the peace of God will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
“4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9)
3. The Word Of God Is True
As we begin with Philippians 4:8 we are looking at the first thing to think on. “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.”
“Whatsoever things are true…” I see so many videos of people jumping over cliffs and landing on places that would be impossible to do, and you can clearly see that it is not real. I see photos and people ask that a certain person be removed from the photo, or the background be changed and these are not real. What good is a photo that is not true? A person can ask AI to create a picture or story and it has gotten to the point it is hard to tell what is true and what is false. I grew up watching Walter Cronkite as a news reporter and he told the facts, and didn’t change the truth like reporters do today. Okay, so what is true? God’s Word is always true. It doesn’t change with time. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (Psalm 119:160) We may have trouble knowing what is true in the world today, but God’s Word was true from the beginning and it will always be true. Just as things spoken by the prophets came to pass in the past, the unfulfilled prophecies will also surely come to pass. Read the book of Revelation. It tells us what will come to pass, and it’s true. Think on these things.
4. The Only True God
Now that we have established that the Word of God is true, we can look into the Word and also see that there is only one true God. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to die on the cross and give His life to pay for our sin. There is no other way to have forgiveness and a home in heaven.
“But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.” (Jeremiah 10:10)
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:20)
5. The Truth Shall Make You Free
Once we believe on the truth of God’s Word, and we believe that there is only one true God, then we can put our trust in Jesus and have freedom from our sin. We are all under the bondage of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) When we turn away from the sin that binds us, and turn towards Jesus, He gives us hope, and peace, and joy, through His great love. He lifts the burdens of our sin and guilt, and He sets us free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23) Are you still carrying the debts of your sin and shame? Paul tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) Think on these things. Has Jesus lifted your burden of sin and set you free?
6. Whatsoever Things Are Honest
If I know that a person is not being honest with me, then I don’t trust them in anything, large or small. Honesty and integrity are very important to God and to others. We may be able to fool someone in a lie that we say to them, but God hears what we say, and also knows what we are thinking. Paul told the church. “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” (II Corinthians 8:21) “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:9-10) And to the church at Ephesus, he wrote, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25) In Proverbs 6 there is a list of things the Lord hates, and two are about not being honest.
“16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
These are all wonderful reminders that we are to be honest. My favorite verses about honesty are found in I Timothy 2:1-4.
“1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
7. Living A Life That Is Just
We looked at “true” and “honest” and today we come to a word that seems to be a combination of both of these words. There are many verses in the Bible that tell us to use just measures. In the laws given to Moses, God said, “Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:36) If I decided to sell squash from the garden and had a measure that showed 5 pounds and it was actually only a 4 pound weight then I would be cheating the buyer of a pound. And if I was going to the farmers’ market and had a weight that showed 5 pounds and it was actually 6 pounds, then I would be cheating the seller a pound. We are to be just in all of our business dealings. “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” (Proverbs 11:1) Many try to get ahead in life and make money through false ways and deceit. When we live a life that is true, honest, and just, it is much more valuable to our children than any amount of money we could pass down to them. “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7)
8. Just A Few More Familiar Verses
Before we move on to our next word to think on, I want to share some familiar scriptures about “Whatsoever things are just…” Each verse is special and worthy of our time to “Think on these things.”
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)
“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” (Matthew 27:24)
“39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
9. A Pure River
When I was young we were walking through the woods, and Dad took us down between two hills to see the spring head. The water looked clear, and almost pure enough to drink. Our grandparents drank from the springs and drew water from the well. That was 150 to 200 years ago. With the pollution of man much of the water supply has been corrupted, and must go through water treatment plants. I often look at the first verse in the Bible for the word of interest, but I am looking at the last account for the word, “Pure”. “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1) In heaven there is a “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal”. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, there was a curse put on the world. But, praise the Lord, there is no curse in heaven! There is no sorrow and death in heaven. Everything is pure! The water is pure! The city, and the street are pure gold, like clear glass. “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass… And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:18 & 21) We will forever be with our Father, purified by the blood of our Savior.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (I John 3:1-3)
10. Ways We Can Be Pure
There are several verses in the Bible that tell us ways that we can be pure.
We can be pure in heart… “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” (I Timothy 1:5)
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” (I Peter 1:22)
We can have a pure conscience… “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” (I Timothy 3:9)
“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;” (II Timothy 1:3)
We can have pure wisdom from above… “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)
We can have pure minds… “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:” (II Peter 3:1)
Salvation through the love of God makes us pure…
“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
11. Think On Things That Are Lovely
I found that there are only four verses in the King James Bible that contain the word, “Lovely”. Think about it for just a moment. What are some things that you would call lovely? The last one in the Bible is the one we have been looking at. “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) The first mention of the word is II Samuel 1:23. “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.” At the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan, David said that they were lovely. We can have family and friends that are lovely. It is wonderful to think about someone as being lovely. Not necessarily in their outward beauty, but it could be in their grace, or service, or talent to the Lord. It could be their friendship or their spirit of love towards others. The next verse is found in Song of Solomon 5:16. “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” We often think of a bride as being lovely. But, this verse is speaking of the groom. The church is the bride of Christ and we can surely say that “He is altogether lovely.” The last example that we find is “a very lovely song” found in Ezekiel 33:32. God gives us His lovingkindness in the daytime, and a lovely song in the night. “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8) When fearful or ugly thoughts come your way, remember to think on lovely things. Think of family and friends who are dear. Think on Jesus our Savior who is altogether lovely. And have a song in your heart. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)
12. Things Of Good Report
We began this devotional series talking about all the bad news that we get. It seems bleak to look at the news reports of what’s going on in the world. It is disheartening to get bad reports from a doctor or from our family and friends. All of this brings us to the last uplifting example in our verse, “whatsoever things are of good report”. We like to get good reports! As children it was always better to get a good report card. When I have my scheduled visits with the oncologist I am always encouraged and thankful to get a good report. When I think of good news in the Bible my mind always goes to Proverbs 25:25, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” For me it doesn’t even have to be from a far country. I am encouraged when I get a card in the mail or a text from a good friend. I am delighted when I get a call or message from my family. As Christians we can look for the good in things that might otherwise seem bad. My Aunt Lucy passed away last week and it seems sad, but she no longer has the pain that she endured the last few years. It is good to think about how she is in heaven with her Lord. To finish the week we can look at more scriptures in the Bible that are wonderful to think on. There are many Bible verses that give us strength and hope. If you have a special scripture that helps you think on good things, and you would like to share, please send it to me. And when life gets you down turn to 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)
13. Looking For Good News
I was thinking about some of the Bible verses that are uplifting and good. When I began my morning Bible reading the Lord showed me some very uplifting verses in Isaiah. I enjoy reading from God’s Word in the mornings. Sometimes God gives me a verse or thought that stays with me throughout the day. We are fortunate and blessed that we can begin our day with a Word from God. Think about it! God has given us His Holy Word to lead us and guide us. That’s something that the people who lived during Bible times did not have. Do you want something good to think about? Just look in God’s Word.
“1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Verses form Isaiah 25)
“3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:3-4)
14. My Sins Are Forgiven
I’m a “should’ve, would’ve, could’ve” kind of person. Many times I will be doing something, and right out of the blue I remember a failure from my past. I think of something that I should have done, but, I didn’t. It doesn’t help to make excuses that I would have, or I could have, if only… Thoughts like this rob me of my joy, until I turn my thoughts to Jesus. He gave His life to take the punishment for my sin. That’s not just the things that I did, that I shouldn’t have. It’s also times when I didn’t do the right thing.
“26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)
As I was trying to think of the most important thing that I could think of, it’s not even close. Jesus suffered and died for my sin. He removed my sin as far as the east is from the west! My sins are gone! “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)
“10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”
(Psalm 103:10-18)
15. God Is Good!
It’s Friday evening and I am ready to type our devotions for Saturday. I am smiling because I have been thinking of this since early morning. Sometimes, as today, the thoughts carry me through the day. And this thought has carried me through many days, and many years. I was taught this from a very early age, “God is great, God is good! Let us thank Him for our food.” “God is good!” No matter what bad news I may hear, God is good! No matter if I feel poorly, God is good! God is good while I am singing, and He is good if I am crying. God blesses me when I am working in my garden, and when I am with my grandchildren, and sitting in church. But, He also blesses me during unexpected distractions. When life is challenging, it is good to think on this, “God is good!” My Lord has been so good to me!
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
“Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.” (Psalm 135:3)
“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentations 3:25)
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
