Think right: Live right

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Philip the Apostle. The text (in Old Church Sl...Philip the Apostle. The text (in Old Church Slavonic) in the book is: "15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love..." (First Epistle of John). Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (1774) at Kondopoga. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, . . . honest, . . . just, . . . pure, . . . lovely, . . . of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
 
Our lives are surrounded with ungodliness and demands that often bleed away our thoughts until we are worn and weakened. Reflect for a few moments on this inventory of empowering thinking.
 
• Truth--Literally "that which is not hidden"; Jesus Himself (John 14:6); the Word of God (John 17:17; Psalm 119:11).
 
• Honesty--Not just accuracy, but "sober" and "venerable"; sometimes "magnificent" or "great"; used of church officers (1 Timothy 2:2; 3:8).
 
• Justice--Righteous, just, right, suitable; "The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom. . . . The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable" (Proverbs 10:31-32).
 
• Purity--Morally and sexually chaste; closely connected with "holiness"; the emphasis is on physical and mental purity (1 John 3:2).
 
• Loveliness--Beauty, friendship, delight, and wonder are all suggested by the "good love" of this word (Luke 12:27).
 
• Good News--This takes discipline, because there is far more bad news than good in this world; we are admonished to take "inventory" (dwell on, recall) the "good reports" (Proverbs 25:25).
 
These excellent and paiseworthy matters should dominate our thinking in a conscious "inventory" of the attributes on this final list. If we do so, God promises His peace in our lives.

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