Creeds Breed Deeds

"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 it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9

We so often hear verses or songs that we've heard all of our lives and easily overlook what they are saying. This verse is very much that way in my life. It is full of commands and promises while revealing the character of God, but it is so easy not to notice.

Our Pivot message this past week was on biblical thinking, and several points about this verse stood out, so here goes:

~ We are to think godly thoughts so that we might cultivate godly desires - we won't live what we are not thinking. (creeds breed deeds - our beliefs will affect our actions)

~ We let the world be the trend-setter, rather than God. God may reveal something and we just think it's ok. Then, the world reveals the same thing, and we think it's amazing. Our minds are very impressionable, and we let the world have more access to it than God.

~ The reality is that for better or worse, your thought patterns are tied into everything that's going on in your life.

~ Don't overlook the promise in the verse: "the God of peace will be with you"; as we change our thoughts, we experience grace, peace, joy, etc. And as a result, we experience God and learn more about his character, because God is grace, peace, joy, etc. As we think on truth, excellence, and beauty, we encounter Christ, who is truth, excellence, beauty. The God of peace will be with you and the peace of God will be with you.