Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of peace will be with you in all things. Phil 4:8-12
Today we started our Sermon Series: There’s Always a Choice, that will lead into Easter. One of the reasons so many people feel the way they do about the church and Christians is because they haven’t seen the true Jesus. I hate to admit it, but for a long time people knew what the church was against more than what we believed and stood for. Unbelievers saw condemnation and judgment from the very people who said they were following Jesus. I don’t know about you, but who wants to follow someone who makes you feel like that? Then to make things even more confusing Christians would talk about the love of Jesus. So does Jesus condemn and judge or does He show mercy and grace?
Jesus said He was the Life, the Truth and the Way. His way was loving, merciful, gracious and kind. He never compromised the truth, but spoke it in love and let His words and actions show God the Father’s heart. He spoke words so impactful that they transformed people not just changed their behavior or at the very least planted seeds of hope in their hearts that made them consider maybe there was truth in what He was saying. He lived what He spoke and that resonated with people and saw how much He truly loved people, even the people who wanted to destroy Him.
When Paul’s life was transformed and he began a life of wanting to live like Jesus. As he put it in today’s passage, he fastened his thoughts on the glorious works of God always praising Him even in the times of trial and trouble. And doing so enabled him to live a life in peace no matter what the circumstances. When we live a life in peace, we can share it with others and they will want what we have. And it will open up doors of opportunity to lead them into a relationship with Jesus. Keep your mind on that is merciful and kind, beautiful and respectful and you will become what you are thinking and showing the world a Jesus they may have never seen before.
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