WHATEVER IS TRUE

There are some important implications that can be drawn from Philippians 4:8-9:

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   

Here are a few:

• All truth, nobility, purity, loveliness, and excellence belongs to the Lord. It doesn't have to be Christianized to be worthy of our attention.
• If we are commanded to "think on such things", we must be capable of some control over our own thoughts. And we need to exercise that control.
• The true, noble, and praiseworthy things are worthy of our attention in and of themselves. They don't have to be a means to some other end. Relaxing in an easy chair with my eyes closed while listening to a piece of music by Mozart is an excellent use of time. 
• Whatever is false, whatever is ignoble, whatever is wrong, whatever is polluted, whatever is ugly, whatever is debased - anything which is terrible or mockworthy - don't dwell on such things. 
• We especially need to take note of people who live lives of truth and beauty and nobility - and then model our lives after them. We are not only to think on such things, we are to live them.