Fix Your Mind – If There Is Any Virtue (Part 7)
December 14, 2023
I procrastinated writing these posts on Philippians 4:8 for almost a whole year. I started writing this blog series back in the summer of 2022, and writer’s block settled in. If you look at my blog history, you will see a big empty gap of time. Not only did I not write about Philippians 4:8, I didn’t write about anything! I would like to say I just got busy, but that is not the whole truth. I let the topic intimidate me. I knew I needed to write this series, but I certainly was NOT practicing what this verse instructed - thinking about the good things, not the bad things.
As weeks turned into months, I knew in my heart that if I didn’t get past this topic, it would stunt my writing. I came to the realized that God had given me a stretch assignment, a project that is a little beyond me. The question hanging out there: Will Julie quit when the writing assignment was difficult or uncomfortable? The final answer is a resounding NO!
So, let’s get back to fixing your mind - Philippians 4:8.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, 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 any praise, think on these things. (MEV)
Virtue is behavior showing high moral standards. It shows attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop morality. Living a virtuous life is a choice and a decision everyone must make for themselves. There are consequences for indulging in vices like gambling, abuse of drugs or alcohol, sexual immorality, or pornography. The cost of that lifestyle gets higher and higher as you get older and it starts to look like broke, sick, and alone. You can focus on broke, sick, and alone people or you can find someone with good character. Think about and emulate them. That is what Paul is encouraging you to do. The Apostle Peter also has something to say about a life of virtue in 2 Peter 1:3-8.
3 As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
Let’s take the advice to look for virtue in others, to think about what it looks like and its benefits. Proverbs 23 says,
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
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