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Philippians 4:8

THOSE WHO ARE HONORABLE

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Our thinking about things on the list in Philippians 4:8, sharpens our understanding of those things. We all could agree that Paul’s list is inspired and worthy of our attention, but they are most valuable when we have a correct understanding of what each is. When we think about things that are “true” we begin with our personal conclusions about what “true” means. If we are mediating of things that are “noble” or “honorable” our thinking begins with and is influenced by our personal belief of what “honorable” means. One person’s list of honorable things can be totally different from another’s person’s list.

I am writing today on November 11th, Veteran’s Day. Today is a good day to analyze how we conclude a thing is honorable. Why do we decide that men and women who served our country in her armed forces should be honored? Answering that question may help us understand “honorable.” Here is my opinion. Our men and women who served in uniform are honorable because they made unselfish sacrifice.

Personal sacrifice is an honorable thing. Military personnel give up part of their lives to serve their country. They put themselves in harms way because they believe it is the right thing to do. They risk their lives for a greater cause. They heed a call while understanding what the cost could be. They dedicate their service to those they leave behind. They don’t quite when times are tough, they have each other’s back, they give their best and more. They are counted among the people who are honorable. There are others: police, fire-fighters, and other first-responders. There are others: missionaries, servants of the church, church ministry leaders and volunteers. These are honorable too.

We find in the last chapter of the book of Romans a list of honorables. Listen to the reasons for their honor. “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you.; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. Who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. . . . Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles, who were also in Christ before me (Romans 161-4,6-7).

Today is a good day to think about things that are honorable, and particularly people who are honorable. How pleasurable it is to meditate on our own list of honorables. There are many names from the past and others around us today from whom we learn what honorable means. How pleasant it is to meditate on them today.

NO WORRIES

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Wouldn’t it be nice if we had no reason to worry? What If there was no evil, no danger, no lack of resources, no bills, no bad news, no disappointments, no sickness, no growing old, no poverty or homelessness, no thieves, liars, murderers, conflicts, or wars. If there was nothing to worry about, what would we do? Worry is our favorite pastime. It is what makes life interesting, right? In reality, worry is what ages us, weakens us, and robs us of peace and joy. Yet we welcome worry as a friend and look for it around every corner. Worry becomes habitual and dominates our days.

There will always be things to worry over. Like anything in life, we must make a choice. Choosing the things we will think about is the purpose of this blog. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing” and in verse eight gives us different focus choices. Instead of worry, think about these things. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

I write this blog each week to help me, and anyone else who may read it, to practice choosing what we allow to influence our attitudes, emotions, well-being, frame of mind, perspective, world-view, and our spiritual and mental health. Instead of worry, think about things that are lovely. Instead of anxiety, think about things that are pure. Instead of fear, think about things that are true. Instead of distress, think about noble things.

Jesus tells us not to worry or fear. Giving ourselves some better occupation for our minds is seeking to be obedient to our Lord’s command.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

I love the story in Matthew 8 where Jesus and his disciples are in a boat. A terrible storm catches them at sea. Distressed and afraid the disciples wake Jesus saying, “Lord save us!” Jesus speaks and the wind and waves subside, but not before He says to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” This story began like this. “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.” We know this story very well. When we follow Jesus, there may be storms ahead. We follow Him in faith and have nothing to fear. No worries.