May We Truly Follow Jesus Christ

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8 CSB

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. NKJV

 

This verse was in my mind this morning before I read Michael's post about the wide gate and the narrow gate. Paul instructed believers who had chosen the narrow gate to dwell on what is on the narrow road. As Christians with the wide gate beckoning to our flesh, we have difficulty focusing for what is on the narrow road. There is even more out there to allure us now than it was for the early Christians Paul was addressing.

We must be diligent to focus on Jesus and who He is. He is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of a good report of His Good News, perfect, and worthy of all our praise. Anything pointing to Jesus that is less than this is not a good report and we should not focus on it. This includes all media in front of our faces.

I asked forgiveness this morning for staying less than a minute on an ungodly show as I channel surfed last night.

Father God, show us how to be careful about walking on the wide road of destruction.

Give us Your Holy Spirit's discernment to follow Jesus our Lord and Savior revealed to us in Your Holy Word.

Forgive us when we fail. Give us strength to get off the wide road in our thinking. Give us ways to stay on Your narrow path not looking to the right or left but straight ahead to Jesus so that we might lay up treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt, and so that we might finish the race and not be ashamed at Your coming.

For Your glory and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.