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.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me
practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
Can anything beat the taste of biting into a freshly picked, juicy, summer fruit? You know, the type that has ripened on the vine in the summer sun to the point of perfection, nearly ready to burst its skin with flavor. You can smell the fruit before you taste it – and for just a moment, you might be transported back to a memory of this same ritual from summers past.
Perhaps you go back to a barefooted childhood of late summer evenings when people sat outside to catch the neighborhood news that floated by on the barest wisp of breeze. Or maybe you recall that family-famous dish Aunt so-and-so always brought for the July 4th picnic.
I have fond memories of eagerly checking the progress of a plant each day as its fruit grew and ripened ever…so…slowly.
Wherever that delicious time-machine takes us, we have God’s incredible creativity and generosity to thank and praise for it. Which brings us to our scripture passage above, and
Paul’s reminder to focus on what is Worthy of Praise!
What a difference it makes to focus on the honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent aspects of our life and environment – not only to our own outlook and actions, but to those around us!
Paul entreats his followers
to remember and focus on the good in one another and their ministry together.
Just like those fruits that take time to grow, develop, and ripen to perfection, we are all being made more perfect and fruitful under the careful and watchful gaze of the great gardener. What is the Spirit producing through you?
Today, remember to focus on what is good and what is becoming good, so that your work may be a gift and blessing in the lives of those around you and worthy of praise.
In Christ,
Katie
