I'm not sure where I got my negative perspective that rears its ugly head sometimes, but it has a way of distorting the way that I view scripture. Whenever I have read this verse in the past, my mind thinks, "okay, i can't think about bad things." One of my favorite pastors actually says it best when he talks about how, growing up in a small Baptist church, they came to church on Sundays to celebrate everything they didn't do. He jokingly points out a small flaw in many churches, and also in my case, my way of thinking. You see, as a person who grew up surrounded by the Christian faith, there were many things that I was taught NOT to do. Don't drink, don't do drugs, don't talk to boys, don't swear, don't work on Sundays, don't wear underwear with holes in it because you might get in a wreck and have to go to the hospital and what would they think seeing your worn out underwear? You get the picture. So for some reason, when I read scripture, my mind defaults to look for what does this passage tell me about what I can't do if I want to be a good Christian.
"Finally, brothers, 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."
Ok, so if something does not meet that criteria, then I can't think about it. Simple enough.
But what if there is another side to the scriptures? What if Jesus came not to limit our lives to a big list of what NOT to do, but to give a life FULL of opportunities to DO stuff? Great stuff! John 10:10 tells us Jesus came to give us a "rich and satisfying" life (NLT)! That sounds much more exciting to me!
So when I look at scripture through the eyes of a God who wants me to have a full, abundant, rich and satisfying life, I see all the things that I CAN do!
"Finally, brothers, 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."
Look at all of those things that I CAN think about! And really, truth be known, it's not that I can think about those things, God actually instructs me to think about those things. And it is an excellent model to use when those creepy crawly little thoughts come weaseling their way into your mind. Paul encourages us to "take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And this is a perfect way to do that.
I'm going to use my husband for an example here for a minute. Because he loves me and he will forgive me. :)
When I walk through the house and I see dirty socks laying on the floor, it is in my nature to begin grumbling about how he never picks up his dirty socks. Why can't he just take an extra few steps and put them in the hamper. Maybe this house would be cleaner if everybody picked up after themselves, blah blah blah. You know exactly what I'm talking about. But these are all negative thoughts that stem from a sock. What if we use Philippians 4:8 as a thermometer for my oh so holy thoughts.
Whatever is true...
What is the truth in this situation? My husband dropped his sock on the floor. At the moment that the sock came off of his foot and out of his hand, was he thinking about ways that he could make my blood boil? Most likely, no. He was not. Most likely, he had had a long day, and he was tired and he just wanted to get in the shower and get all the dirt from the day off of him so he could sit down with his family for supper.
Whatever is noble...
This one can be kind of tricky. I can't think of many things in my life that are necessarily noble. What do you think of when you hear the word noble, though? Probably something along the lines of royalty, right? Honor, majesty, kingly, loyal. Do those words ring any bells for you. Our Savior is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the most noble character there ever was. When we think about whatever is noble, we can think about Jesus. And the demons shudder at that name. I guarantee you when you speak that name over dirty socks, your heart will begin to soften. If you are having trouble finding the whatever is true in the situation, try skipping forward to noble, and then go back. It might be a little easier for you.
Whatever is right...
I can make a huge list of things that are wrong with my husband. I've already told you that my nature is negative for some reason. And throw in a little neurotic tendencies and you've got a real doozy. Sorry babe. And dirty socks can sure get me rolling on that list, but when the Word of God tells me to think about what is right, that changes a lot of things. I think about the way he takes the dog out for me, and how he sweeps and vacuums the floor way more than I do, and I think about the way he always, always makes sure the shower curtain is pulled. I think about how he calls me just to tell me that he loves me. I think about the way that he makes our little boy's face light up when he comes home. i think about the way that he holds me at night when it's cold because we are too cheap to have the heat above 68. And when I think about these things, it leads me straight into thinking about...
Whatever is pure....
In the midst of busy lives and dirty clothes and bills that don't subtract as fast as they add, and all the other bumps and bruises along the way...when I stop and think about all the things that my husband does right, I begin to think about how we share a love in the purest form. A love, that is covered with the blood of Christ. A marriage, that has been transformed and redeemed by a merciful and gracious Savior. A bond that cannot be broken by any mortal man nor the evil forces that bring up dirty socks when the mind is tired and weak. I think about two lives that are imperfect and stained and worthless, but when held up to the light of Jesus, we are two vessels that shine brilliantly in the shadow of His glory. There is nothing more pure than the way that Jesus loves us.
Whatever is lovely...
Dirty socks may not be lovely. In fact, there are lots of things about life that aren't lovely. But there are a lot of things that are lovely. Because God created them, and that makes them lovely. Even a dirty sock, when looked at with the right perspective, can be lovely. Thank you Jesus that we have socks to throw on the floor. Thank you God that you keep our feet warm and soft. And if I have to pick up a million socks in my lifetime, I am thankful, because they are lovely, because you provide for our needs. My husband is lovely. He is a lovely creature. His eyes are clear as glass and blue as the sky. He is handsome and strong and he takes care of us. He is a lovely man, with lovely socks. ;)
Whatever is admirable...
My husband has many, many admirable qualities. He is fiercely loyal, he is humble, he is honest as the day is long, he is gracious and forgiving and compassionate. He loves the Lord with his whole heart. If that isn't admirable, I don't know what is.
If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
By the time you get to this point, you might as well turn on the Chris Tomlin music and lift those hands. If I were guessing, you'll be at this point way before you make it through all the whatevers. Now that I have used God's word in the face of the enemy dirty socks, I am able to look at my husband with love, not disdain. Because how many times have I done something that bugs the tar out of him? Plenty. And how many times has he shown grace for my flaws? More than I want to admit. And this reminds me that I love him, dirty socks and all, and once again, my heavenly Father has shown me how to look at life with the mind of Christ.
""Finally, brothers, 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."
It's not about what I can't think about, It's about what I CAN think about! I know it's a simple thought, but for me, it was a revelation. I am praying that it touches someone else out there also.
