What is your Mind Fixed On?

     Have you ever had a verse go through your head day in and day out?  Recently, that has happened to me and it is something I think all of us could use in these difficult times.  The verse comes from Paul's letter to the Philippians in chapter 4:8:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Just reading the words points us in the right direction.  We are to put out of our minds those things which bring on worry, stress and fear.  God has given to us a sound mind, and here, Paul is instructing believers to exercise that mind by concentrating on the truth and the good things that go with it.  Where do we begin to do this?

     At present, if we spend any time on television, it is often filled with reports of unrest across our nation.  Some of the information we get is not always correct either.  Watching the news can be downright depressing if the truth be told.  On several Christian podcasts, a recurring theme has been shared over and over this week.  The speakers have said that if we are looking for the truth as Christians we need to look no further than God's Word.  In it, we have not only an understanding of God's character but of who we are as well.  Our relationship to God determines our relationship with our fellow man.  Jesus said in Luke 10:27:  "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  If we are not in right

relationship with God, it is hard to love our neighbor.

     People in our country are looking for answers.  How do we stop the violence and unrest?  What can we do to improve race relations?  Why are we so divided?  These are all real concerns for the here and now.  While I am not suggesting that the Bible is a political answer book, I am saying it is the source of all truth.  

For us as believers, the Word of God serves as a foundation not only for our faith but for our moral responsibilities to our brothers and sisters.  We are citizens of heaven and this is not our permanent home. As we pass through this brief journey of life, we are called to be salt and light.  Salt preserves things and light drives away darkness.  Both of these tasks are hard unless we keep our eyes on the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.  The only way I know to keep our eyes on the Lord is by being immersed in His Word to us.  

     Our culture talks about identity politics when our identity is to befound in Jesus Christ.  While some cry systemic racism, our problem is really systemic sin "...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  While the mob believes our system of government should die, God's Word says that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a) not just physical death of an individual but eternal separation from all that is good in a place called Hell.  However, the Bible, unlike our cultural gurus goes on in Romans 6:23b to say:  "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus His Son."  We have the answers for life my friends.  This world does not offer any answers any more than it did back in the days when the Roman Empire ruled the world.

     Therefore, instead of reading all the latest books on how to patch our world up or listening to non stop news that gets us down, we need to have our noses firmly planted in God's Word of Life for us.  We need to pray it, read it and eat it daily.  For us it is food that will sustain us through the worst of times.  Then, we are meant to get out and share this news with other souls who are looking for answers in this world where there are none.  Do not misunderstand me.  Yes, we are to do good works and help others in need in loving gratitude for what God has done for us, but first, we must be filled to the brim with His truth.  We cannot fight as soldiers without the proper equipment and training.  God's Word is our sword, and He has all we need for life and godliness.  If we are filling our mind with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and worthy of praise as found in the Bible, we will be able to withstand the slings and arrows of this world.  May God cause us to hunger and thirst after His righteousness first and foremost so we can be a change agent in this world journey we are on.  Selah!