Soul Armor – Final Thoughts

The Apostle Paul commanded Christians in the church at Philippi “think on these things.” It was a command to habitually focus their thoughts in a specific direction. Their thoughts were to be captivated with what was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8-9)
 
Imagine probing the minds of twenty random individuals to see what their thought patterns identify as “excellent and praiseworthy.” I’m not talking about what they would write on a list for all the world to see. I’m talking about what they have, through repetition of thought, elevated to the status of admirable and worthy. The revelations would range from commendable, to benign, to insipid, to salacious, to darkly frightening. For the most part, we choose what occupies our thought life, but the subjectivity of what the human mind venerates is astounding.
 
Paul’s command was not meant to be subjective or individual. While his instruction must be applied individually, it’s vital to remember that it was written to a church. The command was public and plural and meant to be lived out in community. He wrote “you all” dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. The standards for what qualifies as “excellent and praiseworthy” are held in community under the rule of God’s Word. The second half of Paul’s command makes this clear.
 
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
 
Paul had spent considerable time teaching the Philippians God’s Word. Now he commands them to think collectively and concertedly about the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy truths they have heard from him and seen demonstrated in his life. By rehearsing that teaching and encouraging one another in it, they would be able to “put it into practice.” Then the God of peace would be among them. (For parallels see: Ephesians 5:15-20; Colossians 3:15-17.)
 
 
 

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