03-04 - Philippians 4:8 - Whatever Things Are Pure, Lovely, Good Report

{Philippians 4:8} Finally, brothers, ... whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report..., think about these things. -- RLIV.

The worldly mind may reason that any thought that is not considered sexually immoral is pure, but the child of God has higher standards. If one belongs to Christ, he should recognize that any thought that advocates selfishness, pride, envy, jealousy, or malice is impure, and thus should not be entertained. Purity of thought is about repelling any thought that is not pure is God's eyes, but it is also about thinking on the pure things that God has revealed, both in the Bible and in creation around us.

The Greek word translated as "lovely" appears to refer to that which is worthy of affection, as something to be prized. That which is prized of the new creature should be not what the world might seek, but rather the things of God. Of course, throughout each day, we have many things to do, and we should set our minds upon the tasks we need to do, but in all we do, our thoughts should subjected to our goal of pleasing our Heavenly Father. There are many influences that may surround us that may seek to turn our attention away from our main goal in life, and thus, we need to guard our thoughts from becoming infested with anything that is not in harmony with pleasing our Heavenly Father and His Son.

Related:

Daily Heavenly Mann for March 3 * BSM Aids * Video

Right Habits of Thought

Think on These Things

Consecrated Thinking 

02-19 - Titus 1:15,16 - To the Pure All Is Pure

{Titus 1:15} To the pure, all is pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 

{Titus 1:16} They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. -- RLIV

Those whose thoughts are given to that which is defiled will display such defilement in their words and actions. Such may become lacking in the ability to think of love and benevolence as motives for conduct. With their impure thought, they attribute impure motives to others. Such will often fail to see anything good or right in others. This can even lead to the extreme of impugning evil motives to Jehovah and our Lord Jesus.

It is important then, for the child of God to strive to keep his mind pure, seeking the things above, that which right in God's eyes. Instead of seeking faults in others we should fill our mind with thoughts of caring, seeking ways to use our time, hands, feet, tongues, in blessing and upbuilding others. If we have our minds set on what is pure, we will see things differently than if our minds are set on things of the world. If our heart is given to purity in thought, we can see in our fellow believers purity of heart in spite of the weaknesses of the fallen flesh, and we can see those of the world with the realization of their plight as being due to the condemnation in Adam. 

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 19  * BSM Aids * Video

Unto the Pure All Things Are Pure

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Consecration and Separation

Sincerity Before God

Love From a Pure Heart

How May I Be Pure In Heart?