Which News Do You Choose?
The Notgrass History team just returned home from our annual retreat. Our theme passage was Philippians 4:4-9:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,
dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:4-8
As we discussed the passage during our first morning together, I thought about what life is like when people do the opposite. It goes something like this: Be miserable always. Be harsh around everyone. Worry about everything. Dwell on things that are false, dishonorable, wrong, evil, ugly, scandalous, inferior, and worthy of criticism.
After I wrote that last paragraph, I started to write: “Kinda sounds like the news, doesn’t it?” But then I realized that I wasn’t saying exactly what I mean. That last paragraph kinda sounds like what various media report as “the news.” The truth is that the negative words in that paragraph describe only a part of what is happening in the world. While it’s true that the world has misery and harshness, lies and dishonor, scandals and folks who are quick to criticize, on the same day that some people are acting in those negative ways, other people are choosing faith and gentleness, truth and honor, a good reputation and actions worthy of praise. The choice of which to think about and what to bring into our homes for our children to think about is yours and mine.
. . . Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9