Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

December 17, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO HELP ME REJOICE (part 3)

PHILIPPIANS 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved……. 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice

God has given us precious resources to enable us to “rejoice” in our everyday lives. Rejoicing should be a characteristic that is present in our lives. It is, or should be, one of those things that sets us apart. Let’s look at some more of these resources that are given to us in Philippians chapter four.

3. A PATTERN TO SHOW US (8-9a)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do.

God, in His Word, gives us here fantastic instruction about the things we need to do to keep joy in our hearts. We are told HOW WE ARE TO THINK, and WHAT WE ARE TO DO. God gives us a pattern. God begins by telling us the things that we are supposed to keep our minds focused on. Although we could spend time on each of these, let me give you the list:

1. TRUE THINGS
2. HONEST THINGS
3. JUST THINGS
4. PURE THINGS
5. LOVELY THINGS
6. GOOD THINGS
7. VIRTUOUS THINGS
8. PRAISEWORTHY THINGS

QUITE A LIST! How wonderful would it be if we would control and discipline our minds to think like that? We think of so many things that are the opposite of this list. One way to test our thinking habits is to ask yourself if what you are thinking about could fit in one of the categories on this list. If not, you probably should not allow your mind to stay focused on it. You know, what is unfair in your life, who has not been a good friend, what that person said about you, how you deserve better, etc. We cannot let our minds stay consumed with those things. God has told us what we need to focus on if we want to keep our joy. Are you missing joy in your life? Then take the advice that God has given, “think on these things”.