by Rick Combs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we leave 2022 and enter the new year of 2023, my mind goes to thoughts of an increase in our integrity, character, and mission. In essence, what kind of a person do I want to be in the coming year and beyond? What characteristics do I want to exhibit from my life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have lately been meditating on Philippians 4:8 which says;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true<\/u>, whatsoever things are honest<\/u>, whatsoever things are just<\/u>, whatsoever things are pure<\/u>, whatsoever things are lovely<\/u>, whatsoever things are of a good report<\/u>; if there be any virtue<\/u>, and if there be any praise<\/u>, think on these things\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I have underlined the qualities of a godly and beautiful life. When it comes to my family, church family, friends, acquaintances, or anybody I meet on the street; how do I want to treat others? The Philippians 4 verse outlines what we should strive for. It is the way we walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n TRUE is the foundation for the other qualities. Let\u2019s be people of truth. The Word of God gives us truth. For us today, it is the Revelation of the Mystery which includes the gospel of Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HONEST with everyone I deal with. When I say I am going to do something, I will do it. I will not lie to you but tell the truth. The word honorable is a good synonym. Let\u2019s be honorable people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JUST is another word for righteousness. As just and righteous people, I want to express it in acts of love toward others. The identity of the just is seen in kindness, gentleness, and patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PURE is clean and white. It is the excellent expression of godliness. The just are pure. All of my thoughts toward you will be pure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LOVELY is another word for beautiful. Purity is beautiful. When I was in college, one of my female friends said to me, \u201cI am going to save myself for the man I marry on my wedding night.\u201d I was struck with the thought of how beautiful that perspective was. It is a concept that has all but been lost in our current culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A GOOD REPORT is what my friend told me on that night. True \u2013 Honor \u2013 Just \u2013 Purity \u2013 Loveliness all brings a good report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VIRTUE is to be admired and cherished. It brings peace and life into our day, and is worthy of<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRAISE which is the sum total of all these qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are told to \u201cthink on these things\u201d. As we put our thoughts on the TRUE \u2013 HONOR \u2013 JUST \u2013 PURE \u2013 LOVELY \u2013 A GOOD REPORT \u2013 WHAT IS WORTHY OF PRAISE, we will be walking after the Spirit with attitudes that are after the Spirit and not the flesh (Romans 8:5-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help me memorize these qualities, I wrote down the first letter of each to keep by my chair; <\/p>\n\n\n\n T H J P L GR V P. I quickly learned these words and make them my modus operandi in my attitude toward others and life in general. I encourage you to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 9<\/u> \u201cThose things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.\u201d Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Rick Combs As we leave 2022 and enter the new year of 2023, my mind goes to thoughts of an increase in our integrity, character, and mission. In essence, what kind of a person do I want to be in the coming year and beyond? What characteristics do I want to exhibit from my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-scripture"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=625%2C445&ssl=1",625,445,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=300%2C214&ssl=1",300,214,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=625%2C445&ssl=1",625,445,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=625%2C445&ssl=1",625,445,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=625%2C445&ssl=1",625,445,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Philippians-4-8.jpg?fit=625%2C445&ssl=1",625,445,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Rickcombs","author_link":"https:\/\/biblicalchristianity101.com\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"by Rick Combs As we leave 2022 and enter the new year of 2023, my mind goes to thoughts of an increase in our integrity, character, and mission. In essence, what kind of a person do I want to be in the coming year and beyond? 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<\/strong>As we think about these things, they begin to manifest in our outward behavior. We have the promise that the peace of God will be with us. It is also a great way to remember the qualities of the gospel of the Grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n