October 29, 2022 -- Philippians 4:8 -- Put your thought securely on Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 ESV

Fix has two meanings. It can mean to repair—so, the meaning would be the command mend your faulty thoughts, set right your mind so that you are not in the gutter with your thoughts. In this context, the preeminent meaning of fix is to attach securely. Put your every thought securely on Jesus Christ—night and day. This is what will keep you from wickedness and spiritual harm. Link your admiration of what is lovely and beautiful to that which Christ has shown you is excellent and praise-worthy.

This is a command. It will take effort on your part. Too many Christians, I perhaps most of all, are lazy. We pray to God, asking the Spirit to do this work for us, but then we attach our thoughts to ugly things, useless things, empty things and wonder why spiritual progress is so difficult? Or one notices a spiritual decline. Ask yourself, over the last day or two, what consumed your attention? Anything that is not true and honourable and right and pure will in turn consume you. But the excellencies of God, the pure and admirable which flow from Scripture, prayer and a life focused on Jesus, these will direct you in paths of joy-filled, holy living. It is the great adventure.

O LORD, I fling myself with all my weakness and misery into Thy ever-open arms. I know that I am ignorant and much mistaken about myself. Thou, Who sees in very truth, look mercifully on me. Lay Thy healing hand upon my wounds. Pour the life-giving balm of Thy love into my heart. Do for me what I have not the courage to do for myself. Save me in spite of myself. May I be Thine, wholly Thine, and, at all costs, Thine; in humiliation, in poverty, in suffering, in self-abnegation, Thine; Thine in the way Thou knowest to be most fitting, in order that Thou might be now and ever mine. Thou art my Strength and my Redeemer. I am Thy poor little creature, dependent on Thy merciful charity alone. Amen.
Père Besson (1816 - 1861)

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