Letters From The Inside

Man, isn’t it a good thing people can’t see what you’re thinking? Imagine how horrible it would be if we walked around with a comic thought bubble hanging over our heads, reciting for all the world to see exactly what we’re thinking. How offended would people around us be if they could see what we’re REALLY thinking when we force a smile at them? Would the cop let you off with a warning instead of a ticket if he could have read your thoughts in that instant you saw the blue flashing lights in your rear view mirror? Fortunately, our thoughts are mostly locked away, out of sight. And out of sight is out of mind, right? So what does it matter what we’re thinking if it doesn’t really hurt anyone? Right?

8 Finally, brothers, 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. 9 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. 

“Wait… WHAT?!? Paul’s telling us how to THINK? Hey, it’s one thing to tell me how to act, but my thoughts are my own private thoughts, so butt out!” But that’s exactly what Paul is saying. He says it’s not enough to just get your outward actions and manners under control, but we’re responsible for our thought life, too. YIKES! In the Bible the prophet Samuel tells King David’s father (as in “David and Goliath”) that

“God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

God’s watching what we’re thinking, even when we’re not!

In Verse 8 he tells us what to think about. Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. So, by contrast, we should not allow lying, ignoble, wrong, filthy, hateful, contemptible, inferior, unworthy thoughts to rattle around in our heads. There’s a thousand and one situations that trigger those “contemptible” thoughts, but we are responsible for every one of them.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we DID have thought bubbles following us around, but they were full of pure thoughts? Wouldn’t it be cool if we lived life thinking God thoughts?

Pastor Sam

Doesn’t it sometimes seem like there are some people you just can’t get along with? I once travelled half way around the world with a guy that just grated on my nerves. I’m not entirely sure why, but it was mostly the little stuff. Small habits and mannerisms that irked me. I know I’m not perfect, and no doubt he felt the same way about me!We all have different personalities, and some personalities gel better than others. Some of the issues we have with other people are nothing more than personality clashes. I’m sure you can think of a couple of people right now that just get on your nerves. That someone might even be a family member!

Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with a note to a couple of people in the church that were fighting so much, word had reached him in prison of the discord. 

1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.      

So Euodia and Syntyche  obviously cannot seem to agree with each other. Paul’s advice might have been “Just stay away from each other” and I think that’s how we deal with those people in our lives. But Paul urges them to not avoid each other, but to agree with each other. One of my favorite parts of the Bible is a line in Psalm 133 where God says He will bless us when we live in unity. With some people it’s easy to “live in unity.” We have the same interests, similar personalities and sense of humor. But Paul isn’t talking about them. He’s talking about the people that annoy you, or drive you crazy. People that you steer away from when you see them coming. Paul says to agree with those people IN THE LORD. In the Lord, means that you’re doing it for God, which makes it worth doing, no matter how hard it is!

The startling and unpleasant epiphany I had about the guy that got on my nerves was that the things I disliked in him, I recognized and hated in myself. I hate to admit it, but I exhibited a lot of the traits that bothered me about him. The personality trait I’d like to possess is the one Paul valued so highly: the one of getting along with others!

Pastor Sam

Verse 19 “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”

Again, we have to remember from verse 18, that Paul is saying this with many tears. It pains him to see this happening to people. When you first read this, it almost sounds like there is great satisfaction in Paul’s voice when he says their destiny is their destruction. Like, “you get what you deserve. Destruction!”

I think Paul is just saying, these are the type of people who unfortunately, have made the cross their enemy. We can look and see these same type of people with these same attributes today. I can spot the type of behavior in someone that leads to destruction. We can look around and see people who are being led totally by their appetites. People who revel in doing wrong. People who brag about it on Jerry Springer. It never crosses their minds to consider God in their plans.

Like I said before, it is easy to see these type of people and think “well, they get what they deserve.” I think it is important to remember that Paul remembered them with many tears. That is our example for when we run into people who are not following God, to remember them with many tears.

Pastor Eric