Thinking on What Is Excellent
“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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard,
and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
— Philippians 4:8–9 (KJV)
Paul concludes this section of his letter with a profound call to mental discipline and holy focus. Having urged believers to rejoice always, to cast anxieties upon the Lord in prayer, and to receive His peace, Paul now turns to the life of the mind. He instructs the Philippians to shape their thoughts according to what reflects God’s truth, beauty, and goodness.
The Call to Think on What Is True
In a world filled with lies and distortions, the Christian is commanded to anchor the mind in truth. Truth is ultimately found in God’s Word and in the person of Christ, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). To dwell on what is true is to resist deception, slander, and the false promises of sin, and instead to fix our minds on God’s revealed reality.
Pursuing Purity and Beauty
Paul includes categories such as what is pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. These are not mere aesthetic preferences but a call to align our inner life with God’s holiness and the beauty of His character. The Christian imagination should be filled with thoughts that uplift, edify, and lead to worship rather than corruption or despair.
Learning by Example
Paul adds a practical dimension: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do.” Christianity is not only about right thinking but also right living. Paul models what it means to embody these virtues, calling the Philippians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Thinking and doing are inseparably connected.
The God of Peace
The reward for such disciplined thinking and faithful practice is not merely inner calm but the abiding presence of “the God of peace.” Earlier Paul promised that “the peace of God” would guard the hearts of believers (4:7); here he intensifies the blessing—the very God of peace Himself will be with those who order their thoughts and lives according to His will.
Supporting Scripture
- Romans 12:2 — “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
- Colossians 3:2 — “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 — “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Application
This passage challenges us to consider: What shapes my thought life? Are my meditations guided by God’s truth, or are they consumed by fear, impurity, and distraction? To think on what is excellent requires intentional discipline—choosing Scripture over gossip, prayer over worry, and worship over cynicism. The renewal of the mind is not passive but active, rooted in Christ and practiced daily.
As believers, we must also connect right thinking with right action. It is not enough to admire godly virtues from afar; we are called to embody them in practice. By God’s grace, when our thoughts are shaped by His truth and our actions conform to His Word, we experience not only the peace of God but also the nearness of the God of peace Himself.
Prayer: Lord, purify my mind from all that distracts and defiles. Teach me to set my thoughts on what is true, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Conform my life to the example of Christ, that in both thought and action I may honor You. Let Your peace rule my heart, and let Your presence be my daily joy. Amen.
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