Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Tuesday June 9, Philippians 4:8-9

"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 seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

When this came to mind yesterday while dwelling on the sure assurance of God in my life, it stung me, because once again I read in Scripture what I tend to often forget when I am walking in the wilderness of this world.

It was ironic that Paul, who as you may know was in prison, was asking us to practice what he himself was practicing. And as a result, the God of peace would be with us.

He is giving us the simple mindset that brings us peace, which is the mindset of Christ. It's easy for us to dwell on the wretchedness of this world and the world system, that like a beast with dark claws is snatching at our peace in Christ. The headlines are all about sin and evil, and the vanity of the things "under the sun". And believers, who know where the true peace and joy lie, can become frustrated and troubled as we see people walking headlong into the path of destruction.

And, in our worries, we get roped into it, and our peace is taken away from us as well. So, we need to be reminded as to where our heads are supposed to be, and that is "in the clouds", looking for our Lord Jesus Christ. And this little segment shows us what it looks like. What I did yesterday was look at the opposites of each attribute, and gauged where my everyday thoughts led me between the two.

True/false.
Honorable/dishonorable.
Just/unjust.
Pure/impure.
Lovely/ugly.
Commendable/deserving of blame.
Excellence/mediocrity.
Worthy of praise/worthy of dishonor.

We as believers strive to promote the godly attributes over the ungodly, which is right and just, but the error is that we dwell on the ungodly, while trying to be godly. Do you see the difference? I mean, I am completely against the despicable sacrifice of our children, but how do I dwell on it? Do I approach it like the world? Am I so consumed with "causes" that my "affections" are no longer centered on the answer—the things above—but on the things on the earth?

The "Cause" we need to have first and foremost in our minds is the Kingdom of God. Actually, even more so than our personal salvation. If that sounds weird to you, your mindset is off. If you think that your personal salvation is the whole purpose of life, you are thinking self-centeredly.

One thing the writers of the "Westminster Confession" got right was "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." This is the path of peace.

Sometimes we get it right in word, but rarely get it in action. People hear it, and suddenly fall into a works-based life. Instead of dwelling on things above, dwelling on the joys and glories of God, seeking a living, walking relationship with our Heavenly Father, we again try to prove ourselves "worthy". We move from the "do's" to the "don'ts", and our peace is gone. We move to Peter's: "what shall this man do?", pointing the finger and comparing ourselves to a fellow sinner, instead of Christ's: "What is that to you? Follow me!" (John 21).

So, I am telling you I stand rebuked. I dwell far too much on the world, on the fools driving the media and politics. I get consumed by the ugliness of this world, and forget the "glory that shall be revealed". Instead of being part of the solution—that life in Christ is the hope of the world—I stand condemning an already condemned world.

I spend a lot of time on a self-righteous soapbox instead of thinking of myself less and relating the true answer to everything: There is a New Heaven and New Earth coming, and Christ is the One who will be bringing it forth. And He called us to be His mouthpiece: "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? "As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"" (Romans 10:14-15).

So, we preach. But then, when one hears, they look, and look hard. Where is your head? Is it buried in the earth and its problems, or in heaven and its answers? Are you living what you tell them: thinking on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, or are you simply criticizing others who don't think that way either?

Peter learned. He said: "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Peter 4:17).

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Where is your mindset?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps

"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 throws people off on lists like this are the "in between words" like "whatever is". I think this is a quirk in our thinking, because the common "whatever is" takes us away from the continuity of the list. I found it was best to learn it this way: "whatever is: "true/honorable/just/pure/lovely/commendable/excellence/worthy of praise/ think on these things".

And once I have the list memorized, I can add the "whatevers and if theres", but keep in mind the list itself. Your brain likes "chunks", so maybe first learn the initials in two pairs of 4: thjp, lcep. True/Honest/Just/Pure; Lovely/Commendable/Excellent/Praiseworthy.

For my own line of thinking, I see the first four as "virtuous", and the second four as "complimentary".

Linking verse numbers:

To link, I always use pictures. For Philippians 4:8. I'm going to use "flippers" for Philippians, yell out "FORE", for chapter 4, and my memory character for verses 8 is always my friend "Vi in a V8", that is, she is always driving a fancy care with a powerful "V8" engine to help reinforce verse 8. So, I have this silly word picture that has her standing on the hood of her car with 8 golf balls, each with one of the virtues labeled on them. She is wearing water "flippers", and yelling out "FORE" as she "golfs" away each virtue, one at a time. I can put word pictures for each of them for each virtue as well. That's awful silly, but it works for my warped brain to help me link this verse to Philippians 4:8.