We live in an age where we can only consume a small fraction of the information that is available to us. We are bombarded by announcements of things we should be concerned about along with advice on how to think about those things. The noise is relentless and at times oppressive.

We have advertising which attempts to make us feel that buying a product will somehow make our lives complete. Our social media feeds are filled with posts from people that make their lives seem much better and easier than they are. From them we get the message, “if you could only be like me.” We compare ourselves to people that seem to have better experiences, more stuff, and happier lives.

Then there are the very real struggles that we all face. Jesus was totally accurate when he told us “You will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33, CSB). The list of things that cause suffering is seemingly endless. Then there is the anticipation of suffering that can also be oppressive. We understand the bumper sticker:

“Life is hard and then you die.”

The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to be anxious about anything. But we are anxious, or at least we are tempted to be anxious and our society increases, rather than decreases, our anxiety.

So what does Paul recommend for us to do to be less anxious? First he recommends praying about it and allowing God to work it out. This will bring peace.

Paul further recommends a change in the way we think about life. In Philippians 4:8, Paul writes:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8, ESV

The verb in this verse, translated think about, is in the imperative mood and is therefor a command or an instruction. For Paul, it is not optional, it is mandatory that we control our thoughts and channel them in healthy ways. He commands his readers to do this.

What are we to think about?

In verse 8, Paul gives us eight categories of things that we are to think about and focus upon. Over the next few blog posts I would like to explore these categories individually and open a discussion as to how we can apply this command to our lives.

If you are encouraged by this post or would like to make a comment, please use the comment form below to offer your feedback. If you are reading this in an email and would like to comment, you can reply to the email or click on the “Read in browser” link below to go to the web page where you can enter a comment. I enjoy hearing from you.

This morning I listened to the story in Exodus 3 of Moses encountering the burning bush.

As I listened to it, the thought came to me that life as a Christian would be so much easier if God would appear to me and tell me what to do. Instead, I have Scripture as a guide and I need to infer what God wants rather than hearing specifics about my situation directly from God.

Shortly after beginning down that thought path, it dawned on me that Jesus has told me what to do. He boiled it down to two great commands:

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””

Matthew 22:37–40, ESV

There are only two things I have to do. But I must acknowledge that I don’t do either one of them consistently. If I ever made it through a day feeling that I did pretty well at these commands, then I would consider that a great day. Alas, that day has never come. I find myself falling short and sighing at the end of every day as I consider the many ways I failed in these commands.

But I find comfort in what John wrote in his first letter:

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

1 John 2:1, ESV

I am reliant upon grace alone to get up the next day and begin again to attempt to fulfil the two great commands.

At the burning bush, Moses was given a huge task, he was called to shepherd the people of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt.

With those two commands, Jesus has given you and me a huge task to practice unconditional love.

When Moses remonstrated with God and declared his inability to fulfill the task he was given, God said to him, “but I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). The presence of God would allow Moses to overcome all the difficulties and fulfil his task. And Moses did indeed fulfil the task he was given.

Jesus told us “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV). So while the task to love God and love others is also very daunting, with Jesus by our side, and with the grace and forgiveness that we are given when we fall short, we can press on in our mission.

Theologians categorize the attributes of God into two categories. The categories are communicable and incommunicable. Communicable attributes are those which God has passed on to humans. These are the ways we demonstrate that we are made in Gods image.

This morning, I read this verse in Psalm 86:

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:15, ESV

David, the author of this psalm, lists five attributes of God:

• Mercy
• Grace
• Slow to anger
• Abounding in steadfast love
• Abounding in faithfulness

These are all attributes that are communicable; we can imitate God in all five items on this list.

We can choose to be merciful to the people in our lives regardless of whether they deserve that mercy.

We can demonstrate grace to those who definitely don’t deserve it. I am reminded of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount about turning the other cheek and going the second mile.

We can choose to be slow to anger. Certainly there are things that happen around us about which we should be angry. We should be rightly angry when injustice is done to those who cannot protect themselves.

But am I quick to become angry about those little irritations that come at me? Am I quick to become angry because I have been inconvenienced in some way? By refusing to let the small things make me angry I can imitate God.

We can choose to practice love. The love in question is unconditional love that looks out for the best interest of the object of that love. It’s not an emotion as much as an action. It is a choice to do the right thing for someone else.

We can choose to practice faithfulness by being faithful to those to whom we have made commitments. In the whole story of the Old Testament, God was faithful to Israel even when they were in open rebellion. God has been faithful to humanity by providing a Savior in Jesus Christ, even when we as a group were in open rebellion against him.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Romans 5:8, ESV

Every moment of every day, we can chose to imitate God in these attributes. Like exercising our bodies to increase our skill, speed and strength to complete an activity, we can also exercise our minds to increase our ability to practice these attributes.

If you are encouraged by this post or would like to make a comment, please use the comment form below to offer your feedback. If you are reading this in an email and would like to comment, you can reply to the email or click on the “Read in browser” link below to go to the web page where you can enter a comment. I enjoy hearing from you.

A short note today to wish everyone a Happy Easter in 2023.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that Evil will not win and that anything is possible with God.

Blessings to you today as you celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.

He is risen!