Week 6 ● Day 4

WEEK 6 ● Day 4

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9

In most parts of life, I’ve wanted a manual for success. You know, like A + B = C. When I was pregnant, I read all the parenting books: how to get your baby onto a great sleep schedule right away, how to get your child to eat healthy, how to get them to obey when asked the first time. Strangely, I wasn’t as successful and perfect as I expected once I was in the throes of real life.

Although parenting, marriage, and business-related advice can be helpful, sadly, A + B just doesn’t equal C every single time. Life is unpredictable, and human wisdom is unreliable. But you know what we can rely on? Biblical promises.

In today’s passage, Paul gives us an if this, then that recommendation for life. With this, he’s saying A + B = C . . . Every. Single. Time!

1. I’m the absolute worst at math, but let’s pretend I’m the math nerd I’ve always wanted to be! Ready for a little equation? We’re going to start backwards, with Paul’s C (the conclusion or outcome). If we add his A + B, what do we receive? (Hint: C is found at the very end of verse 9.)

The outcome Paul is talking about is the peace of God. (Tomorrow we’re going to spend all our time on the concept of peace, so we’re just going to lightly touch on it now.) Now that we know the solution (C) is peace, let’s figure out the rest.

Let’s start with A.

2. What are the eight things that Paul shares with us in Philippians 4:8?

Now we’re at: whatever is . . . true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise + B = God’s peace.

3. So, what is B?

The answer to what B is emerges from both verses. In Philippians 4:8, Paul says to think about these eight things, and in Philippians 4:9, Paul instructs us to practice these things. When we set our minds on these things and put them into practice, God’s peace will be with us.

4. Turn in your Bibles to James 1:22-25 and Matthew 7:24-27. How do these two passages connect with Paul’s command to not only set our minds on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, and the like, but to live into those things?

The verb used for think in Philippians 4:8—logizomai (λογίζομαι, pronounced lo-gid-zo-mai)—means “to deliberate,” “weigh, meditate on.”[1] In other words, we need to think rightly because the harvest of our thoughts influences the way life will be lived.

5. Where might God be calling you to change your thinking? How could that influence your actions?

J. Alec Motyer says in his commentary on Philippians,

We are to meditate on, to prize as valuable, and to be influenced by all that is true, all that merits serious thought and encourages serious-mindedness, all that accords with justice and moral purity, all that is fragrant and lovely, all that brings with it a good word, that speaks well, whatever has genuine worth of any sort and merits praise.[2]

Following Jesus isn’t just about thinking the right things. Who He is and what He has done should change us in thought and in action. And as we put into practice the life He calls us to, we will find ourselves surrounded by His peace, no matter what we’re facing. How beautiful is that?

Spend some time talking with the Lord about your desire to be a woman whose eyes are set on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. This is the sort of reputation I want to have and the kind of legacy I want to leave . . . and I have a feeling you do too!

Amen.