Devotion 11.30.20

 "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.... 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." Philippians 4:6 - 8

Paul, the author of this letter to the church in Philippi, wrote from prison when he said this. From prison!

We refer to this as an optimistic mindset in the leadership arena. Mindset refers to attitude.  What's your attitude? Sometimes I can be the cynic and most often the realist. I call it as I see it with data to back it up (or sources). Yet, in spite of those two ways of looking at life, I'm also optimistic and hopeful because of my background in history. I don't see any generation as worse than any other because history shows us every generation feels the younger ones are far more spoiled than their own generation. Yet each generation has its issues.  History also shows peaks and valleys.  We got attacked at Pearl Harbor, and we signed a peace treaty after unconditional surrender with Japan in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri several years later. 

So here we are in 2020 declaring it the worst. year. ever. It's been a challenge no doubt. We have a pandemic in an election year and leaders in science, medicine and governments scrambling to find answers or solutions that have direct or indirect impacts on all arenas in life.

But Paul, writing in prison, a Roman citizen knowing what Rome is capable of (having known about Christ crucified and others executed), writes a letter to the church in Philippi (Greece) giving an excellent note of encouragement, a list of Christian virtues - truth, honor, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise... "think on these things."

The message to us is clear.  What's your mindset? Paul tells us to practice what we have seen in him.  "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things...." (v 9).  Do not just as I say, but do as I also do.  As Christians, men of faith specifically, as we see the world around us, have the opportunity to live and speak as Paul did.  Place our mindset on the virtues Paul gives us. Place our minds on the salvation and grace from Christ.