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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)
Yesterday in church the Lord spoke through these verses to convict me of my constant attitude of cynicism. I have been conditioned to critique or to find flaws in people, systems, philosophies, theologies, songs, or books before I find the positive things-the things of God that are true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.
Paul gives this challenge to the Philippians after he entreats two Christian women, "...who have labored side by side with [Paul] in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of [Paul's] fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life (4:3)," to "agree in the Lord (4:2)." When we have this attitude of cynicism, we are blinded to the things of God, nothing is ever good enough, and we disagree in the Lord. We, as believers, are in the Lord, many members of one body (Christ), called to maintain the unity given us in Christ (Ephesians 4).
As redeemed (justified), recovering (being sanctified)sinners, we will have disagreements. Sometimes it is necessary to disagree and sometimes it is unnecessary to disagree, but we must always agree in the Lord. The way we do this is to think about and look first for the things in Paul's list. Because Jesus is true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, anything that bears any of these qualities is of God and, therefore, must be celebrated and enjoyed.
"What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
(Philippians 4:9)
