For the past eleven days, I've been thinking about Philippians 4:8 for the #write31days challenge. Phrase by phrase, I've been breaking down the verse and really meditating on what it means.
What is true? What is honest? What is just? What is pure? What is lovely? What does it mean to be of good report?
And how do I translate that to me?
I started to skip right over the next phrase, and move on to virtue, but as I looked at the verse in the Greek (no, I'm not a Bible scholar, but Blue Letter Bible is awesome!), something said I needed to comment on it.
"... If there be any..."
As I've looked through this list of whatsoevers, sometimes I've asked myself... is there any of that stuff? In today's world, is there anything true or honest or just? Anything pure?
Sometimes it's hard to see the good. And sometimes I choose to look past it.
"If" is one of the biggest two-letter words in the English language.
In case that...
Supposing that...
Whether that...
In case there be any...
Supposing that there is any...
Whether that there be any...
Ei tis... whoever or whatever. Thayer's Greek Lexicon elaborates, "When anything is simply and generally assumed to be, or to be done, or to have been done, or to be about to be."
Assume that there will be...
All of these things.
Even when we can't readily see them.
This phrase is also translated, "If any..." or "If any man..."
As in,
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any G1536 man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."- Matthew 16:24
"If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."- Mark 4:23
"Therefore if any man G1536 be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."- 2 Corinthians 5:16
For me to focus on all of these whatsoevers, I must be an "any man". Following Jesus. Denying myself. Taking up my cross. Listening. Realizing that I am a new creature. ALL things are new.
Including my mindset.
Help me, Lord...
Needed this verse today. Thanks.
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