Think Right, Do Right

During the COVID pandemic, Charlie Mackesy – a British artist and author – wrote and illustrated a bestselling book called “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse.” The book is filled with heartwarming illustrations, which have been adapted into an acclaimed, animated short film. The book is also known for its though-provoking, conversational one-liners. One such one-liner is especially profound, when the boy says to the mole: “Isn’t it odd? We can only see our outsides, but nearly everything happens on the inside.”

What the boy says is true and agrees with what Solomon taught in Prov 23:7:

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Pastor and preacher Steve Lawson echoes this principle when he says, “People’s lives are ultimately the product of their thoughts.”

It matters what you think about, because as your mind goes, so goes your life. Prov 4:23 connects the quality of your thoughts to the quality of your life this way:

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. (NASB)

Our own culture recognizes the importance of thinking well – at least in theory. We call the subject “mental health,” a technical term which refers to our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings, and behave.”

Throughout Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, he emphasizes the right kind of thinking and mental state, speaking frequently about the mind as the gateway to joyful living: Here are some words in the NKJV translation, for instance, that refer to our mind and thoughts:

That’s about thirty or more references to the mind in this one short letter!

As followers of Christ, we can’t control the circumstances or people on the outside, but we are both responsible to and capable of determining how we think internally. Doing so requires diligent effort but is entirely possible as we rely upon the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit to be what we must be and do what we must do.

A key to living with joy – to experiencing a calm, confident, contented enthusiasm – is choosing to think in a better, Christlike way. That’s what Paul explains in Phil 4:8-9, teaching us how to focus and filter our thoughts in a personal, intentional way.

Focus your thoughts continually.
Finally brethren … meditate on these things.

In Phil 4:8, Paul insists that we must “meditate” on certain things, listing six qualities of good thoughts, then summarizing those qualities with two overarching qualities. Before we look closely at these qualities, we must first consider the central action given by Paul – to meditate. I will highlight five key details to help us understand this action as clearly.

• First, the word means “to think about, consider, contemplate.” It is an accounting word that means “to count,” as when an accountant looks closely at a record of numbers, accounts, and calculations. It’s how students are supposed to think when they do math homework and work out algebra, calculus, and geometry problems. That’s why “meditate” is a good translation because highlights how we must give focus to these things, applying good thoughts to our life situations.
• Second, the word is given as an imperative or command. Paul is not offering a suggestion. He is giving instructions which are not optional but are necessary, required, and essential to experiencing a joyful life.
• Third, the word conveys an ongoing action. Paul is speaking about a regular habit, lifestyle, and practice which something you commit to doing frequently and continually.
• Fourth, the word speaks of something you do actively and intentionally, not which happens to us and not which someone else can do for us. Doing this is your duty. You must intentionally choose to think this way on a regular, habitual basis.
• Fifth, this instruction is given in plural form. It is given to everyone in the church, to every believer, to everyone who is following Christ by faith alone. This is not an instruction for special believers but for all who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, Paul teaches us to focus our thoughts continually on the qualities which he describes.

As followers of Christ, God has given us a personal obligation to determine and govern the appropriateness and quality of our thoughts. Though any number of thoughts may present themselves to our minds for consideration, it is our personal responsibility to choose which thoughts we will allow ourselves to take seriously.

Just as TSA (the Transportation Security Administration) confirms your ID and examines your luggage before you enter an airport terminal, we must confirm the source and quality of the thoughts we allow to enter our minds.

How easy it is to realize hours and days later that we’ve been contemplating and daydreaming about harmful or unhelpful thoughts. We need to be more vigilant to filter our thoughts on the front end before we think more deeply and extensively about them.

To help us make these decisions well, Paul provides six positive qualities which determine the appropriate and quality of our thoughts as followers of Christ.

Filter your thoughts rigorously.
… whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy …

Here Paul provides six qualities of good thoughts and then summarizes those qualities with two additional, overarching qualities. Before we look at these qualities individually, what can we notice about them as a group?

• Altogether, these thoughts provide the guidelines or parameters for Christlike, godly thinking. Thoughts which contradict or violate these qualities do not deserve serious attention or consideration in our minds. Thoughts which exhibit these qualities, however, do deserve our serious attention and consideration.
• These qualities give a guideline for filtering or sorting the thoughts that come into our minds. We do this when we sort mail – throwing away junk mail, shredding mail with sensitive data, opening important mail, and then filing or setting mail aside which requires further thought and action. We do the same thing when we choose fruit and vegetables at the grocery store, separate dirty and clean laundry, and so on.
• These qualities, though limiting, are given as broad categories. Notice how the first six come after “whatever” and the final two come after “any.” These added words suggest that there are many thoughts which fit these categories.

Such generosity and variety should remind us of the generosity and variety of choice that God presented to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when he said:

“I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Gen 1:29)

“Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat...” (Gen 2:16-17)

Yes, God prohibited them from eating from one kind of tree, but we must not forget that he permitted – even encouraged – them to enjoy every other kind of tree he had made. When God places limitations in our lives, we should never view such limitations as restrictive. We should view them as clarifying and empowering instead.

Speaking of fruit, the good thought qualities which Paul describes here help us recognize bad thoughts which, if consumed and considered by our minds will produce spiritual, mental, and personal harm and unhealthiness. But whatever thoughts match these qualities are like “super fruits” that can supercharge our mental and spiritual health and quality of life. These are not merely the kind of thoughts which God allows or permits but are, instead, the kind of thoughts which provide the greatest satisfaction and success.

Have you ever asked the question (or had anyone ask you), “Can I watch this movie?” or, “Can I read this book?” or, “Is this a good author, commentator, or source of news?” or, “Is this a good idea?” These qualities which Paul provides help us answer such questions.

• True refers to anything authentic, genuine, or reliable, not erroneous, false, disingenuous, or fake. In particular, John, and also Paul, use this term frequently to describe any concept or information that reflects God’s truthful character and promises, and which reflects the truth and ethics of the gospel. Paul is not necessarily referring to anything which is simply accurate, but which may also not reflect the truth of God. For instance, it may be factually true that you have been fired from your job or that the world news headlines are depressing, but such info is not also noble or lovely. Truth here is “the truth that is in God, in the gospel, in Christ” (Paul Keown).
• Noble refers to anything elevated, lofty, honorable, majestic, moral, or worthy of admiration and respect (not base, crude, frivolous, immoral, and low value morally). This word teaches us to avoid “soap-opera” thoughts which rise no farther than the “he said, she said” drama of daily, earthly life in a sinful, self-centered world. Choose to view life instead through the big picture lens of what God has done, is doing, and will do – viewing life from above not below.
• Just refers to anything that conforms to God's holiness, is appropriate, moral, and right. It may be illustrated by a set of scales in which God’s righteous character rests on one side and whatever we place in the other side matches in weight and value. This word describes godly justice, that which is ethically right, viewing life from the perspective of others, asking what course of action and mindset is best and most equitable, fair, and appropriate for them from God’s standpoint.
• Pure refers to anything blameless, chaste, clean, holy, and virtuous – uncontaminated and unstained by depravity and sin. Paul uses this term elsewhere to describe innocence towards sin, sexual purity, and freedom from false teachers. It describes a single, undivided focus on that which is doctrinally and morally pure.
• Lovely refers to anything artistic, beautiful, creative, and pleasant. Anything which causes pleasure or delight, while excluding any so-called pleasures which violate the qualities already given. This word has some possible connections to a Greek word for friendship, too, which suggests that Paul encourages us to think seriously about how we may be a good friend and enjoy good friendships with others, pursuing and valuing godly, wholesome friendships and relationships rather than isolation and bad friends.
• Good report refers to anything with a good reputation, spoken highly about, well rated, or highly regarded by God and good people. It combines two words together, one which means “good, well” and another which means “news, report.” This word encourages us to avoid thinking deeply about bad and discouraging headlines, news, and reports and to choose good news instead. Good news certainly includes the gospel – how much do you think about that? This word is also corresponds with listening to and singing good music, music which uplifts the goodness of God and the goodness of the gospel.

The final two words Paul gives are phrased differently than the first six, which suggests that these are not additional qualities but rather summarize the ones previously given.

What do these two words mean? Together, they describe any thoughts which are excellent and exceptional and therefore worthy of our attention and praise. To be more specific, commentator Michael Green explains the word for virtue or excellence this way:

[This word] means ‘excellence,’ and was used to denote the proper fulfillment of anything. The excellence of a knife is to cut, of a horse to run. Something was excellent – virtuous – only if it fulfilled its purpose.

So, a knife is not excellent only to the degree that it cuts well, a horse is excellent only to the degree that it runs well, a boat is excellent only to the degree that it floats and sails well, and a car is excellent only to the degree that it drives well.

Knowing this, Paul teaches us to be rigorously selective. Filter out thoughts which are disconnected or out of touch with God’s original purpose and will. In this sense, we can our should think about evil, for instance. But in doing so, we should think about evil not as that which is appropriate, enjoyable, ideal, or wholesome but as that which is destructive, evil, worthy of judgment, and ultimately that which will be defeated. A good story or movie plotline, for instance, must include problematic characters, elements, and crises of some sort, but these should not violate God’s nature and truth in the way they are presented, nor should they be presented as enjoyable, positive, or triumphant.

What’s more, “things which are excellent” are those things which align with our God-given purpose and focus our thoughts on our God-given purpose. We should think about food, money, success, and relationships for instance, but in the right way, in ways that align with our God-given purpose.
And what is our God-given purpose? To know Christ and make him known. To become like Christ and to show others what he is like. To follow Christ and to teach others to follow him. We must filter all of our thoughts through the character and work of Jesus Christ.

To think this way requires a process of mental transformation (Rom 12:1-2):

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Elsewhere, Paul calls this process “being renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph 4:32). And this process occurs when we, as followers of Christ, allow the Holy Spirit to transform our mind and affections within through regular exposure to, submission to, reflection upon, and obedience to the written Word of God. Elsewhere Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16).

He offers similar advice to the Christians in the city of Corinth (2 Cor 10:5):

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Then consider the preeminence of Christ in all things (Col 1:16):

By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

This is our purpose and our mission in life, to submit every thought to Christ, to filter out any thoughts from regular contemplation which are not Christlike or submitted to Christ, and to contemplate and focus our minds on thoughts which are Christlike and submitted to Christ as Lord.

Follow an exemplary believer.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Here Paul makes an important connection between Christlike thinking and Christlike living, and we can interpret what he says from two angles.

First, we see that as we pursue an increasingly healthy, Christlike mind and thoughts, we should seek out role models in the church who model Christlike thinking and living. People whose words and behavior exhibit the kind of Christlike qualities Paul has described. When we identify such a person, we should seek out a relationship with them – a spiritual growth partnership and friendship – in which we can listen to what they can teach us, receive what they tell us, observe how they live, and adopt the same priorities, values, and behaviors in life.

Second, we see that the need to pursue an increasingly healthy, Christlike mind and thoughts is crucial because we need to provide an example of Christlike living to others. In doing this, we should be prepared to teach, share, and model Christlike, godly living for others, as partners for those who seek to grow in living a joy-filled Christian life.

In closing, Paul makes a guarantee. He claims that “the God of peace will be with you.”

It is important to know that the way he wrote this phrase is not conditional. He is not teaching that God would be with the believers only if they did what he taught them. We know, of course, that God is with us always and we cannot earn his favor or presences.

This guarantee is given as an assurance, a reason to do what he is teaching not the result of doing so. If fighting the battle for your mind and committing to being a growth partner to other believers seems difficult, overwhelming, or uncomfortable to you, then be encouraged to know that the God of peace is there to accompany, assist, enable, and support you throughout the process.

Think about it this way. Though the actual experience and enjoyment of God’s supernatural peace is conditional (see Phil 4:7), based upon whether you will set selfish priorities aside and trust God through prayer, the personal presence of God is unconditional. The God who provides such peace is always there, ready and waiting to supply his supernatural peace as you submit focus your mind and filter your thoughts through his Word.

In the infamous, epic poem entitled Paradise Lost, the poet, John Milton, wrote this about the human mind: “A mind is its own place, and in itself / Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n...”

About this incredible potential, pastor and preacher R. Kent Hughes says this:

The capacity of the human brain is the subject of ever-widening scientific wonder. Its twelve to fourteen billion cells are only a shadow of its complexity … The mind’s activity has been compared to 1,000 switchboards, each big enough to serve New York City, all running at full speed as they receive and send questions and orders. Put another way, there is more electronic equivalent in one human brain than in all the radio and television stations of the entire world put together! …

The dizzying potential of the human mind reaches its apex in the possibility of possessing the mind of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit ... No computer will ever be able to think God’s thoughts, nor will any device be able to know the heart of God or do his works. But the mystery that resides between our ears has this capacity. Indeed, it was created for this—to have the mind of Christ.

With Paul, let me urge you to focus your thoughts continually on that which is good, true, and beautiful. Let me urge you to filter your thoughts rigorously, giving serious, intentional effort to choose to muse on that which brings glory to God by accomplishing the will of God. And may you find Christlike examples to follow and be Christlike examples that others may follow, too.

We’ll conclude with some excellent, praiseworthy thoughts from the hymn called, “May the Mind of Christ My Savior.” A lady named Kate Wilkinson, of whom we know little, published this song in a children’s publication called “Golden Bells” (1925). A British pastor wrote the accompanying melody from a coastal town called St. Leonard’s.

May the mind of Christ my Savior
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of Christ my Savior
Rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.