Whatever... (Part 3)

"Whatever..." Have you ever said that with an exasperated tone during an argument or when trying to explain something and the person looks at you blankly?  "Whatever" can be a conversation stopper, a sign of indifference, defeat, anger, giving up, pouting, not truly listening, or a reluctance to really communicate. It's so easy to think we are right and "whatever" can be a way to sidestep something uncomfortable, admit we are in error, or avoid dealing with what we really don't want to put effort into.

By contrast, in Philippians 4 the word "whatever" encompasses many examples of how to think which in turn will help us live a contented and more peaceful life. It all begins with our thought patterns: 

"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. Whatever you have learned, or received, or heard from me, or seen in me--put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." 

Seven times the word "whatever" is used in verses 8 and 9. One of the definitions of whatever is: "used to emphasize a lack of restriction". In the above verses, I believe Paul, the writer, is saying don't hold back when thinking of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy--fill your thoughts with these things. These words generate positive and uplifting thoughts which in turn will cause the same type of actions. 

"Whatever is true..."

This is really tough in the world of social media where so much information is flying around. How can we know what is true and what is not? Fact-finding takes time and effort. It's relatively easy to find posts that we agree with, but there are always two sides to every story. Video and audio clips can be altered or only certain portions shared, words are taken out of context, everyone has their agenda, their slant. The more we feed our own slant, the more divided we become with no one really listening or even trying to understand the opposing view. Just because someone says it is true or factual, does not make it so. We must look at the evidence.

Personally, I watch or read a little of news from different sources. It's amazing how different the "facts" can come across. I actually don't spend much time watching the news or scrolling through posts, but know I need to be aware of what's going on. My gauge of what is true comes from God's word and I believe my time is better spent there. Then I can listen and read without becoming entangled in all of the fear, hate, dissension and division that is swirling out of control. God's truth brings unity and peace and withstands the passing of time. I need to measure what I'm hearing or reading against what God says. 

Psalm 119:150-152

"Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

Yet you are near, O LORD, 

and all your commands are true.

Long ago I learned from your statutes

that you established them to last forever."

2 Samuel 22:31

This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

God's ways are perfect even though we cannot understand them. When we stand on the truths of His Word, then He is our shield, our refuge, our peace, our contentment. This world is going to pass away and what seems oh so important now, will one day disappear. The only thing that will matter is where we stand with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Decide today what you want to put your energy into. Are you living a life of peace or anger, unity or discord, following God's ways or the world's ways? Is what you are saying or posting really true? How do you know for sure? If you don't know for sure, then stop and research, try not to be trigger happy with the "share" button. Hey, I've done it, so I'm talking to myself also! 

For me, the one thing I know for sure and for certain that is true is the Word of God - the Bible. It is my desire to stand on those truths and post what will hopefully steer others to it and to God. I'm working on all of these "whatever is..." statements. I hope you will also. 

So the next time the temptation to blurt out an irritated "whatever..."  or the desire to fire off an annoyed or angry post crosses our minds, let's pause and think whether it fits any of the "whatever is..." thoughts of Philippians 4. If none of those positive thoughts fit, then let's stifle the annoyance, keep the conversation going with kindness and listening ears, walk away from the social media and seek to truly communicate with one another in the way God designed both face-to-face and online.

Let's replace "whatever..!" with an abundance of:

whatever is true

whatever is noble

whatever is right

whatever is pure

whatever is lovely

whatever is excellent

whatever is praiseworthy

Humble (Whatever...Part 2)

In my previous post, I mentioned that we needed to humble ourselves and repent individually of our own wrong thoughts or doings. As I have thought more about the passage in II Chronicles, the word "humble" keeps echoing in my mind. It seemed appropriate to look at what that means before continuing to dig into Philippians 4. As I watch the news and look at what is happening in our country and around the world, it feels like this word is not being exhibited very much. What does it really mean to be humble? How is it exhibited? 

Currently I am reading the book The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It is a fascinating account of nine university men competing to be in the number one boat with hopes of making it to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The following excerpt caught my attention:

"The boys in the Clipper had been winnowed down by punishing competition, and in the winnowing a kind of common character had issued forth: they were all skilled, they were all tough, they were all fiercely determined, but they were also all good-hearted. Every one of them had come from humble origins or been humbled by the ravages of the hard times in which they had grown up. Each in his own way, they had all learned that nothing could be taken for granted in life, that for all their strength and good looks and youth, forces were at work in the world that were greater than they. The challenges they had faced together had taught them humility--the need to subsume their individual egos for the sake of the boat as a whole--and humility was the common gateway through which they were able now to come together and begin to do what they had not been able to do before."

These young men had been through many challenging situations in their young years, but had persevered, worked hard, never given up, and had learned how to work together for the good of all. In the process, they learned humility. They learned to not think too highly of themselves realizing that they could easily be replaced or left behind. They learned to pull together as if they were one. What a lesson for us today! If each person practiced being humble and good-hearted, what a change this world would see.

Our prime example of humility is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Who, even though He is God, humbled Himself and came to earth, for our sake, in obedience to His father. I was very disturbed to read that not only American flags are being burned in the streets of some cities, but Bibles also. Our ability to know right and wrong, plus how to find true and lasting freedom comes from the Bible. Those who would do such things show how very lost they are. Nothing speaks the truth and teaches us how to live together humbly and love one another better than God's word:

Philippians 2:3-11

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 

but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 

but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, 

did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men. 

And being found in human form, he humbled himself 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him

 and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

One day we will all be humbled before God's throne. One day every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. One day there will be no choice. Choose this day whom you will serve. I choose Jesus. Will you?

Hold On

This dragonfly fascinated me. If you look closely at the photo, you can tell that it was a windy day by the double images of the green blades. He was a tenacious dragonfly who kept holding on to the tip top of that blade even though the winds were blowing all around him.

This reminded me of the passage in Ephesians 4 where it speaks of our growing in the knowledge of the Son of God so that we won't be children any longer and won't be "blown here and there by every wind of teaching". It is so important to know what the Bible says and to keep holding on to the truth that is contained within it. 

However, if we do not read The Word of God on a regular basis and listen to Godly, Biblical teaching, we can easily be tossed back and forth and here and there by all the teachings that sound good or make us more comfortable or politically correct. In order to stand firm amidst the changing currents and winds in our world, we need the firm foundation of the truth that is only God-given. 

Ephesians 4:11-16

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.