Be Optimistic

    Be Optimistic. I can never say that without humming the Shirley Temple song. But this isn't just good advice sung by a dimple-faced girl. It is a Biblical commandment to think on positive things. And before you get your Bible out to check, it isn't in the Big 10 listed in Exodus. This is a New Testament Commandment. Philippians 4:8-9 says:

   
     Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

    Think on these things. Dwell, meditate, fill your minds on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Ideas that are excellent or praiseworthy. And this list is not exhaustive but representative. Think about the wording. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.... " Paul is saying if anything falls under these things, it counts.

   
    Ponder for a moment. Think of things you consider good. That is a pretty long list, isn't it? How about noble? Other translations say honorable or reputable. Right or just? Pure or authentic? Lovely and compelling? Admirable, beautiful and gracious? We are to think on the best things, not the worst.

     I know this eliminates much of what we encounter in our lives today. With this criteria, a lot of our television programming, music, etc is a no-go. The Asbury Bible comments that "Right thinking results in right living, which results in the presence of the peace of God."

     But thinking on such things is not an end itself, but preparation for purposeful action. Verse 9 tells us to put this into practice. These two verses have potential to change our lives and bring us the peace that we need in our lives.  

 

1 Peter 1:3-9

I felt like it was time for a new post but haven't had anything really jump out at me lately so I thought I would share my favorite passage and just see where it goes from there.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth that gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Wow. How can you not be excited about that?! Let us try to take it apart for clarification purposes. Here is my paraphrase:

Praise God! He has given us a new hope through his resurrection! And with that new hope comes and inheritance that can never perish. He is keeping it in heaven for us until the right time but until then we are shielded by God's power. Yes, we will have grief and trials but they are to purify  our faith so that is like gold. Our faith will be our praise, glory and honor for Jesus Christ.
Praise God for that inexpressible and glorious joy.