What Am I Thinking About

Good Morning,

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
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.
Philippians 4:8 (AMP)
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

In one of the shortest devotionals I've ever received or read, this verse was commented on thusly, "Let's get our minds out of the gutter and our hearts set on God's glory." That was the total of what was said. At first I thought about it and my mind told me that more of the meaning of the verse should have been commented on. Then, as I really thought about it, and allowed the words to work in my mind, I pretty much agreed with the person who wrote this short thought. Finally, I had to agree that in those few words, the essence of this verse was shown.

Where are our minds? What do we think about? Why is it that we allow some things to enter into our thoughts? I suggest that the answers to these questions are, at least in part, because we are simply to lazy to weed out "the gutter" from our minds and our thoughts.

It takes effort...probably a lot of effort...to be obedient to what we read in this verse. That is, to put our minds on the excellent, praiseworthy, gracious, virtuous things that we ought to. It also takes great effort to "...get our minds out of the gutter..." as I read in that short comment.

But, it will be worth it.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David