Encouragement
If There Be Any Virtue or Praise ...Think!
I realize that I stopped before the end of the sentence on my title, but lets think about it. So many times we do things without thinking. On these long stretches of Texas panhandle highway where vehicles are sparse, sometimes my mind wanders and I have gone miles without thinking about where I am or looking at the landmarks. (You may not believe there are landmarks, but there are a few!)
It makes me wonder if I sleep-walk through my day, month, years...life. It is easier to do than I like to admit. You know the saying about choosing the path of least resistance. It happens and then, before you realize it, time has gotten away from you.
The points in this verse tell us that if we have virtue or praise we will think on them, things that are true, honest, just , pure, lovely, and of good report. I was stunned to see that one attribute of the word, virtue, is "manly courage or valor". I had never put courage into the mix when I thought of virtue. I thought virtue mostly was about purity. Face it, courage is in play when someone stands for living a virtuous life. A young woman who has just reached a certain level of fame was being scrutinized by one of the entertainment news shows because she is still a virgin. They were cynical and somewhat ugly about it.
In these days of promiscuity it is more difficult to stand for biblical and personal values. It is not the norm anymore. People love to look for "dirt" on others and seem to feel awkward when it comes to boosting their friends or acquaintances. "If there be any praise, think on these things." Praise is something that I crave. I would dare say that you do too. It has to do with approval and admiration. Stand up for your friends even to their own face. How many times do you hear them putting themselves down. They need you to show them the mirror you see them in.
I know that God is the one referred to in this verse that is worthy of our praise. Let us THINK about our praise to Him. Am I just saying something that I always say to Him? Do I approve of Him? Do I admire Him? There is no one like Jesus! I want to applaud Him and worship Him all of my life. He is bigger than my mind can wrap around, but He knows this and understands my feeble attempts to tell Him. When my mid-kid was little, he always said, "Mommy I love you more than the sky is blue!" I knew that he wanted to tell me in a bigger way about his love for me. Sometimes when I praise God I feel that I am saying what is in my heart in the same way. "God, I love You more than the sky is blue!" I think He understands my efforts.
I may not always think the way I ought, but I am going to try to think on purpose from now on! I don't want to sleep through another day.
Webster's definition of :
Virtue- moral excellence and righteousness: goodness, manly courage, valor, pure.
Praise- expression of approval or admiration; commendation, warm approval, admiration, exalt or extol, laud.
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Very good article. We all need to think about this. GOD BLESS YOU
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