by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Thinking About Stuff That’s Important

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

Do you ever feel like you’re wasting time thinking about the “wrong” things.

You’re being tailgated down the freeway for miles and finally the person passes you, cuts in front of you then slows down so that you’re going slower than you were when they tailgated you. You become so frustrated and angry that you keep thinking about that person for miles, even when they’re no longer in your line of sight.

You’ve been betrayed by someone you trust, someone in whom you invested a great deal of time. The rumor mill informs you that this person has been spreading lies about you, but won’t talk to you face-to-face. You’re consumed with setting the record straight and redeeming your good name.

You’ve struggled with abusing alcohol for many years. When you wake up, when you go to bed, and almost every minute in between you’re consumed with thinking about where your next drink will come from.

It’s hard to think about, to be consumed with, things that really matter, things that will make a difference as we make our journey toward heaven. Paul encourages us to think on the things that are truly important.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 New English Translation

My hunch is that this passage feeds our feelings of inadequacy. We’re so consumed with other things, that it’s hard to think about things that are worthy of respect, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. It’s a daily battle. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, yet we don’t give up because God has not given up on us.

Under the mercy of Christ, his cross, his forgiveness, we don’t give up. Like and athlete getting ready for a race, we continue to push forward training our minds for heavenly things. Christ has not left us alone, but has given us his Spirit, the true Power in this marathon.

Through Christ, as you reflect on your day, may you see those moments when you thought about things that matter, things that are rooted in Christ’s love for you.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado