Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
Things to Think About – Part 2
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Yesterday, we considered the first four of eight things to think about in these verses. Paul suggested that the things which are true, honest, just, and pure are the first thoughts on which we are to meditate. Today, we will consider the rest of verse eight.
These are the things which are lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. What a list of blessings awaits us if we fill our minds with these wonderful thoughts.
First, we see the things that are lovely. This word comes from a compound of two Greek words that together mean “friendly towards.” It is translated in many places as “acceptable”, and in this verse, it is expressed as “lovely.” Therefore, if we put all of this into a definition, we understand that we are to think about things which are acceptable and worthy of beholding. What would some of these thoughts be? When we read the Scriptures, we find that Jesus is altogether lovely. What better way to focus on what is true, honest, just, pure, and lovely than to make Him the center of our thoughts.
Next, we find things that are of good report. These are simply those things that edify our hearts and souls. These would be positive thoughts and not negative ones. So often, the enemy of our souls tries to fill our minds with negative thoughts. The world today is filled with evil. Sometimes, I think we are approaching the days of Noah when …every imagination of the thoughts of his (men’s) heart was only evil continually, as it says in Genesis 6:5. This is why it is so important to think on things of good report.
Following these it says, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. We are familiar with praise, but to what does virtue refer? Again, we go back to the original to find an explanation. In Strong’s concordance, we see that this word expresses valor or excellence. Proverbs 31:10 speaks of the virtuous woman. This woman was one who was worthy and had strength and courage. In Exodus 18:21, we find the term “able men.” These men were men of strength, courage, valor, and understanding. What great meditations for us to fill our minds.
As we consider the last verse, we see the results of uplifted thoughts when Paul admonishes, Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. That great blessing is promised when we dedicate our thoughts to godly thinking, and the promise is that the God of peace shall be with you. This then is why we should focus our minds on these things to think about.
Bible Reading for the Year
July 15th, Psalms 22-24; Acts 20:1-16
Prayer Needs
Please continue to pray for Shirley Deans. This Friday, the 17th, she will see her cancer doctor for the results of her bone marrow biopsy. Please pray there is no cancer!!
Continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Please keep praying for complete healing. She sees her doctor at Duke on Friday, July 17th. Please pray for wisdom for the doctor concerning her future treatment plan.
Please continue to pray for Kenny Deans. He had an appointment on Tuesday, July 14th, with his kidney doctor.
Please continue to pray for Dr. Joe Jordan. He is doing physical therapy but still has a long way to go. Pray for him to get stronger! He had an appointment with his hematologist on Tuesday, the 14th, and will have to take shots to improve his red blood count.
Please pray for Linda Franks who will have thoracic surgery on July 23rd.
Please pray for Corey Crandell and his family. His grandmother passed away Sunday morning around 11:30.
Please continue to pray for Peggy Warren. She is facing some difficult challenges.
Please continue to pray for Robbie Harvey who has MAC lung disease. He seems some better; however, he still has a lot of pain.
Please pray for Carolyn Tyson’s sister, Shirley Deal. She now has an infection and is under hospital care.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia