By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Thinking About Excellent Things

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“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 New International Version

What are your favorite things, things that make you smile?  Snowflakes and raindrops?  Ponies and sleigh bells?  Perhaps a whole pile of puppies?  According to Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, these are some of the things that she thinks about when bad things happen and then she doesn’t feel so bad.  This is a philosophy that can help us feel a little better in disappointments and pain.

But I believe that Paul in this passage is speaking of something much deeper.  When Paul tells us to think of whatever is true or noble or right or pure or lovely or admirable or excellent or praiseworthy, he is telling us to think not of temporary pleasures or happy thoughts, but of God.  Of a God who is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and praiseworthy.  Of a God who is faithful and merciful and who sent His only Son to die for us.  Of a God whose promises are always true and always good and never go away.

And of a God who does not see me in my imperfection and sin, but sees me through the lens of Jesus, His righteous Son who gives me His righteousness.  Because of Jesus and His salvation for me, I see all of life differently.  I am no longer without hope or despairing in this world of sin, but I rejoice in the peace that comes through Jesus Christ.

And if this is true, that God is for me in Jesus Christ, then I can rejoice even when the dog bites and the bee stings and when I’m feeling sad.  For if God is for me, who can be against me?! Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado