Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
I am fairly confident that Paul understood the importance of right thinking when he encouraged the Philippian church to think true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praise worthy thoughts. Paul wasn’t referring to just “passing thoughts” in his epistle. The Greek word used for think in Philippians 4:8 means to take inventory. In other words, be deep in thought, leave out no details.
First in Paul’s list is to think on whatever is true. Jesus prayed to the Father, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17 ESV) John Piper wrote in his book Think, “The bible is the main place we come to know God, the bible is a book, a book requires thinking.” It seems our first and foremost thinking should align with the bible and the truths about God’s and his word. Paul wrote, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2 ESV) The word set here means to exercise the mind, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion, to be disposed, or to interest oneself. So, if we set our minds (thinking) on things above (heavenly) we will be thinking true thoughts.
In Romans 1:18-32 Paul lays out the slippery slope to reprobation. He wrote that by man’s unrighteousness they suppressed the truth about God. Although they knew him they did not worship him as God. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:24-25 ESV) People who suppress the truth become futile in their thinking and their hearts are darkened. Paul wrote that God gave these people up to dishonorable passions and to a debased mind (Romans 1:26-28).
A debased mind is one that is unapproved, rejected and worthless. What follows is this: They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (Romans 1:29-31 ESV)
It matters that we think true thoughts, especially about God. The reason it matters is that the things we entertain in our minds can and often does play out in our behavior, as Paul warns in Romans 1. Embedded in Paul’s counsel to think on things that are true is the idea of having a continual regard to also practice what is true. What is true is neither concealing nor deceitful; it does not cover things up. When we fill our thoughts with lies, we enter the deceitful domain of Satan (John 8:44). But God is true (John 3:33, Hebrews 6:18). Wrong thoughts lead to death; right thoughts lead to life and peace (Romans 8:6).
Paul admonishes us in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our minds, so that by testing (with our thinking) we may discern God’s perfect will and what is good acceptable and perfect. We renew our thinking by doing as God commands: Setting our minds on things above (whatever is true), thinking the truth about God and loving him with all our minds (Mark 12:30). As Christians we should practice thinking true thoughts so that we may live truthful lives.
With what do you fill your mind? Do you think on “whatever is true” from above or earthly lies?
Scriptures for meditation:
James 3:14