Whatsoever......

I may have mentioned earlier that I like tulips. This year the things I planted last October came up in the middle of January! I have a picture of them peeping through the snow in the planter in front of the house. I thought they wouldn't make it, but they were very hearty and grew very slowly until in March they finally made their appearance with beautiful multi-colored bulbs! I smile when I think about them! Should I think of them all of the time?

The apostle Paul told us in Philippians 4:8, "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." - My tulips were lovely! Should I think of them more often?

I think the apostle was pointing out that we Christians should adopt a mindset that preclude evil on every level. Those things the "old" man thought and did were things of the past and should be left there. Jesus came to make all things new! (Rev 21:5).

So you and I should make ourselves a goal that each day we will consider something beautiful- they gift of life! We should have a mindset of peace and goodness, without the lusts of the past, whether that lusts be sex, money, or power. God has our lives in His hand and our purpose is to please Him. We cannot do that if our minds are clogged with sin! Our citizenship is in heaven, (Philippians 3:19-20). Let's work to cleanse our thoughts of anything that would stand in the way of us witnessing the saving power of Christ to someone else. Let's start today!

Whatsoever things are............!