📖 Read Time: 8 minutes
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. (Philippians 4:8 ESV – Emphasis added).
During yesterday’s sermon, Be Careful Little Eyes, I issued a challenge to the entire congregation. The challenge is easy to understand: For the next 30 days, give up social media, turn off the news, don’t listen to any polarizing podcasts, and prayerfully and carefully consider the content you are consuming and see how dramatically your life is impacted over the next month.
I tried to be vulnerable before I shared yesterday, I know this is hard. But I also believe on the authority of the Scripture that we can and should make some real changes in the content we are consuming. If you haven’t already, I challenge you to check out this devotion about the Gift of Time and the impacts of social media. I want to be clear… this is not an attack on social media companies, news media, podcasters, or anyone else. This is a challenge for us to reset, draw near to Christ (see John 13:34-35), and to get in His Word with fresh passion and intensity (see John 8:31-32).
As I shared yesterday, Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us eight gates to examine our thought life. Because we know our thoughts impact what we say and do, we need to carefully examine what we are thinking about. Paul tells us these are criteria for the things we spend time pondering, meditating, or thinking on:
- Is it true?
- Is it honorable?
- Is it just?
- Is it pure?
- Is it lovely?
- Is it commendable?
- Is it excellent?
- Is it worthy of praise?
Each word in the list above is linked to the Strong’s Concordance entry giving you additional insight the meaning of the Word in the original manuscripts. Just as we are called to think about these things, the reverse is also true. If our thoughts don’t pass these eight tests, we should not think on these things. Because what we watch, read, and listen to dramatically influences our thought life, if we are going to experience lasting change we should start by examining those things.
Scripture reminds us: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV). Imagine all you and I might accomplish if we took the hundreds of hours a year we dedicate to things like social media and invested it into our walk with Christ, our spouse and families, or in connecting deeper with and serving the community God has placed us in.
As I shared yesterday, this is difficult for me too. Because so much of what is served up to me daily does not pass the Philippians 4:8 test, by God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, I must change my habits and daily rhythms if I am going to mature in my faith. When I intentionally submit my thought life to the gracious Lordship of Christ, my mind begins to become occupied with things of eternal significance and I experience the transformation that only comes by the power and Word of God. Paul reminds us this way: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)
I would like to leave you with some practical thoughts. First, I don’t believe Philippians 4:8 is a conscience issue. What I mean is, even if you think you are unaffected thinking on things that don’t pass the test, you aren’t. Secondly, if you accept this challenge I hope you will fight the urge to become legalistic in its application. You should prayerfully and carefully seek God’s will and grace for you in this season of life. Thirdly, you should plan to fill the time you gain by giving up some things with intentionally drawing close to Christ and those He has entrusted in your sphere of influence. Lastly, make notes along your journey about how God is speaking, the changes you notice in your thoughts, and how your life is impacted on the journey.
“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.” -John Pipper
Shoal Creek Baptist Church is located in Canton, Georgia, and serves families throughout Cherokee County, Waleska, Ball Ground, Holly Springs, Jasper, and the Lake Arrowhead community. Join us Sundays at 11:00 AM.
