Remember the last time Facebook made an update – or anytime they’ve made an update? : ) At first everyone gets frustrated. It’s different. It doesn’t feel intuitive. And it’s frustrating to have to change what came naturally to us – where we could find things, what buttons to press, what settings were automatic. It’s awkward at first – until we become used to it. Then we almost forget the change ever happened.
Or when Word added their ribbon at the top. Was it Windows 7? All of a sudden I couldn’t find anything. Nothing was where it used to be. It was so frustrating at first. And felt awkward. But eventually I figured it out. And eventually the new ribbon became intuitive. And eventually I kind of forgot that it used to be different.
Or Tim Tebow. With his throw that probably felt very natural for him. Then they spent the summer changing it up so he’d have more control. It likely felt really awkward at first – not at all like a throw should feel like. Until he got the new way down. For more control and accuracy. For the better.
Some of the stuff we’ve talked about – like being super intentional with our thoughts so we’re *sure* they are worthy of confronting… and some of the things we’re about to talk more about – like how to approach someone well… well, it may at first feel like a Facebook update. Or a Word ribbon. Or a Tebow throw. It may feel like,
“But I’m not a ‘joyful’ type person. I’m not a ‘lovely’ type person. I mean, it’s nice if someone wants to ponder things that are pure and lovely, but I’m a realist. I see people as they really are. I see gunk. I see ill-motives. All your Philippians 4:8 stuff isn’t really me.”
If that’s the case, then I’d say, you’re right. That’s why we’ve spent so much time unpacking it. Because it doesn’t come naturally. That’s why it is a *command* to think on things that are true, noble, and right. Because it’s not our nature. We don’t have commands to breathe, because that’s our nature! We are commanded to λογίζομαι because that’s not our nature.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8
It requires intentionality. And apparently a lot of it, as it’s a theme in Scripture!
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ~ Colossians 3:2
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
Thinking on things that are true, noble, and right is an intentional reckoning. λογίζομαι is an accounting term used for calculating, computing, weighing. It involves careful reasoning – not haphazard pondering.
We encourage such careful intentionality in our thoughts because – well, of course because the Lord says it! One of the great reasons why He says it is because it so impacts our relationships. Relationships are worth it! As we’ve said, relationships are more valuable than speculations and valid perceptions. They deserve truth. And that’s what λογίζομαι is all about: fact.
“This word deals with reality. If I reckon (λογίζομαι) that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers more to fact than supposition or opinion.”
It’s a high calling… and one we are to do, well, always:
The middle voice is reflexive which means that you yourself are to continually initiate this action and participate in the effects or results thereof.
Yikes, right? We’re back to “but I can’t do that!” And again, we’re back to, “You’re right!” Note in the preceding verse (Philippians 4:7) we are assured that God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Consider the writer. Paul – the one who persecuted Christians. The one who had them killed. If the Lord got Paul to a place where he’s talking about thinking things that are true and noble… um, I think he’ll get us there, too.
The Lord will help us… but we do indeed have responsibility in this! To win the battle (of our minds! not of the conflict : )), we must consider our thoughts intentionally. It requires effort – like ‘taking captive’! It is not a passive pondering. It is an active believing:
- We λογίζομαι that we are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). We actively believe it!
- We λογίζομαι that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). We actively believe it!
Intentional, active… and important! We must pay attention to what we’re paying attention to. The stakes are high! Higher than getting our Facebook status posted or our football throw accurate! : )
“God’s standard for His children is that we should sit in judgment upon every thought that flickers through our minds. If it cannot pass the test of ringing true and being of honest worth, righteous, incorruptible, and attractive, it is to be rejected and repudiated. If you introduce one drop of contaminated water into a pitcher of cool water, the cool, refreshing, pure water will not purify that defilement, but the defilement will corrupt the pure; so these thoughts will contaminate your mind. Satan wants to turn your mind into a cesspool and have your mind occupied with that which ultimately must corrupt, defile, and spoil the whole body, distort the life, and produce sin.” ~ Dwight Pentecost
The real battle may not be the conflict we are about to face. The real battle is in our minds. We have *got* to win the battle of our minds *before* we go into ‘battle’ in conflict with another.
“The battle is not first in the field of action; it is in the field of thought.” ~ Dwight Pentecost
The battle of our minds must be won, and it can be won.
For great benefit:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~ Romans 12:2a
We can be *renewed* by the transforming of our minds. And our relationships, too!
*Then* we are ready for the field of action:
*Then* you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2b
As we wrap up almost a year on our minds – on thinking things that are Philippians 4:8 to be sure they are worthy of confronting! - I cannot underscore this enough: *First* we run our thought through our {dhs} sifter to determine if it is worthy of confronting, *then* we take action as we approach the other person well. *First* we renew our minds, *then* we take action. Our relationships, our God, and ourselves are worth it!!
photo credit: Clemed
Like ‘excellent,’ ’praiseworthy’ is the summation of the previous virtues in Philippians 4:8:
Julie responded,
The response was, “I think I’m entitled to my opinion.”
Now here is the interesting part. What happens when there is a gap? What happens when what we expect and what actually happens are different?
