Think

My dad has to be one of the most patient people in the world.  As I was growing up, he tried to help me acquire the skills I would need to take care of myself in the world.  We came to an agreement early in my apprenticeship process that I was not naturally inclined to things mechanical.  I would try to understand the principles of internal combustion engines that he presented to me, but they just did not stick.  The same was true of the building trades.  In my hands, hammers were tools of destruction, not construction.  One thing he told me, however, has stood me in good stead whatever I have done.  His advice was to always measure twice so you only have to cut once.

Philippians 

 
⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

As he was closing his letter to the Philippian Christians, Paul zeroed in on one of the core problems facing all believers – their thought life.  The Philippian church was strong in its work for Christ and Paul had commended them for it.  He acknowledged that they have continued to spread the Gospel with the same fervor they had when they accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.  At the same time, Paul knows that Satan will not stand by and allow a church to do God’s will without challenge.  Consequently, he cautions them to be on the alert, especially when it comes to their thoughts.

Paul knew that Satan laughs with glee when he finds a Christian whose mind is not focused on the Father.  We are all prepared to fend off full frontal attacks and the devil knows it.  Like mnay of those who occupied key positions during World War II, our enemy prefers to use deception and lies to trap us.  If he can control, or even influence, our thoughts, he has just what he wants.  Attacks of this type are so insidious that, if we are not constantly vigilant, we won’t even know they are happening until it is too late.

In this passage, Paul maps out our defense against these attacks.  First of all, he tells us to fix our thoughts on what is true and honorable.  The word ‘fix’ used here is the same word used in relation to sighting a weapon.  We are being admonished to set our sights on the things of the Lord, ignoring all distractions around us.  Then Paul tells us to think about specific things like purity and beauty – things that deserve admiration.  His list ends with ‘things that are worthy of praise.’  The Bible tells us that only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are worthy of our praise.  That is where our focus must be directed.

Finally, Paul tells us to practice.  We need to put into motion the things that we have been taught through our daily walk with Jesus, and the example of Godly men and women around us.  It is not enough to just think and meditate on the things of God; we must talk and motivate others in the way that God leads.

Measure twice – focus your thinking on the things of God.

Cut once – put into practice the principles He gives us in His word and in the examples of Godly people.  

Enjoy the presence of the God of Peace in your daily life.

We serve an awesome God!!!!!