Think On These Things

The Bible has quite a bit to say about the power of our thoughts.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul goes so far as to say that we are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.”

Needless to say, the things we think on are vital in our spiritual formation and maturity.  If we dwell on things that are objectionable, impure, hurtful, unjust, unlovely and the like it will rob our souls.  I’m not entirely sure why we do those things.  I once had a pastoral supervisor who liked to ask, “What do you get out of that sort of behavior?”  The answer was nearly always, “I don’t get anything out of it.”  But the reply always came back, “Then why do you do it?  You only do it if you think that you’ll get more benefit from it than from not doing it.”

But whatever it is we think we will get out of it, the Scriptures seem to be clear that we will only be losers in the end.  Those negative things we focus on end up being the very things that usually cause division, dissension and strife among us - things that the apostle Paul calls the works of the flesh.  If we are going to build up - ourselves, others, our churches - then we really should heed Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8-9.  They are so important I want to quote them in full:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.