Right Thinking and Right Living

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” –Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV).

Right thinking is necessary to anyone’s peace of mind and imperative for the Christian.  Paul enumerated eight areas of right thinking:  whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy.  He gave four areas of right living, and furthermore stated that he himself could be the role model for exemplifying them.  These were what were learned, received, heard, and seen in Paul.  He was one who demonstrated “do what I do and say what I say.”  Furthermore, following an example such as he set would lead to the peace of God.

As I read and meditated upon these verses from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, I wondered how many of us could genuinely examine our thinking and living and consider them examples for others to follow?  How could Paul be so assured that his example was worthy of following? Outward action cannot be divorced from inward thinking.  “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).  Paul wrote many statements about his spiritual practices which help us to see that telling Christians to follow his example was not an egotistical pat on the back for him.  Think on a few of them:  “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).  “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).  “But whatsoever things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. 3:7).  Paul was spiritually disciplined.  He kept his thinking and his actions in check.  Therefore, he was not afraid or ashamed to say that believers could watch him and emulate what they saw in him as a spiritual role model.

I think of  Annie Johnson Flint’s  poem with these lines:

            “We are the only Bible

            The careless world will read;

            We are the sinner’s gospel,

            We are the scoffer’s creed;

            We are the Lord’s last message

            Written in deed and word;

            What if the lines are crooked?

            What if the print is blurred?

To think right thoughts and to follow right lifestyles are necessary for our own peace of mind and certainly for our exemplary Christian conduct.  “Think on these things” was an earnest plea from Paul to Christians young and old.  If we knew someone was watching and following our example, would we be pleased with the patterns of living they see in us?  God calls us to meditate upon our life practices and our thought patterns.  “Be ye therefore holy, for I am holy,” is His daily plea for us.  The result will be peace in the heart and virtuous life in conduct and lifestyle.                              

Be an Example in the Faith

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” –I Timothy 4:12 (ESV). “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” –Titus 2:7-8.

How important is it to be an “example” in the faith? Moreover, how important is it to have a good “example” to follow? Paul the Apostle wrote to his “son in the gospel,” young Timothy, that he was to be an example to others. He gave Timothy five areas of his life in which he should be exemplary: speech, conduct, love, faith, purity. In a few words Paul covered a broad expanse of life goals: how he talked, how he acted and lived, how deep his love was for God and for others, how committed he was in his faith, and with what purity not only was his life but his teachings.

To Titus he wrote that he should be “a model of good works,” another way of saying “bean example in the faith.” Titus was to be a model in teaching, holding to integrity (uprightness), dignity (honor), and sound speech (good doctrine). Paul knew that such sterling examples as he was urging Timothy and Titus to be would not keep them immune from criticism, but they would be blameless when people wanted to condemn them. Paul also wrote that he himself lived as an example: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:17, ESV). Paul also wrote in 2:Corinthians 3:2-3: “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation written on our hearts to be known and ready by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (ESV).

Annie Johnson Flint was born December 24, 1866 in the little town of Vineland, New Jersey to Eldon and Jean Johnson. Her mother died when Annie was only three following the birth of Annie’s baby sister. At first her father got the widow of a Civil War veteran to look after his two little girls, but she was not very gentle with them. Later, he found a home for the girls with Mr. and Mrs. Flint. Then the girls’ father got an incurable disease and soon died. The orphan girls were adopted by the Flints, who were nurturing and loving to the girls. Annie did well in high school, thanks to “Aunt Susie,” (nor a relative but a teacher who lived near the Flints). Then Annie went to Normal School, taking a teaching course. She got a job for a three year contract and enjoyed teaching, but during that time she developed crippling and very painful arthritis. She had to give up teaching. Even though it was painful to write, Annie began to further develop her talents as a writer, especially in the area of poetry. She began working with the Sunday School Times, which linked her up with a worldwide fellowship of Christians. Many of her poems were published and read widely, wielding an influence for good in many Christian circles. Even though Annie Johnson Flint’s life was not easy, she maintained an optimistic spirit and shared faithfully her deep love for and faith in Christ. She died September 8, 1932. She wrote a poem about being an example. As you read it, think how you can be an example from whom the world can learn about Christ. May the poem inspire you as it did me when I first heard it as a teenager:

The World’s Bible
By Annie Johnson Flint

Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongue
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy
With other work than His?
What if our feet are walking
Where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
Unless from Him we learn?*

(*Note: Some current printed versions render the last line: “And hasten His return?” However, older versions and her Sunday School Times brochure of long ago has the line “Unless from Him we learn.”)