Patterns of Transformation

UV 2276/10000 Patterns of Transformation
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.
Philippians 4 v 8

We need to be wise in how we think in order to make it better. We need to be humble in how we think in order to make life blessed. We need to be joyful in how we think in order to make life cheerful. We need to be truthful in how we think to make life sincere. We need to be gentle in how we think to make life smooth. We need to be diligent in how we think to make life successful. We need to be loving how we think to make life worthwhile.

Thinking is at the root of human spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical progress. The uni-verse urges us to be wholesome and holistic thinkers. Normally, thinking is thought of as something complex, intellectual, cold , lifeless and impractical. It is not meant for the ordinary person. But St Paul knew the importance of the sanctity and impact of human thought. We are to think of our moral standards and live by these. Our downward decline as individuals and as society begins the moment we cease to think about our need to be true, good, wise, pure, virtuous, harbingers of glory to God. Jesus is our practical guide, coach and ultimate and absolute standard bearer in living out these values. Initially, each of us is like Saul after he was blinded by the light of the Jesus vision. But as we dwell on His light, live by His word and think of its practical impact on our lives in terms of teaching us eternal truth, the scales fall off and we begin to see and experience in real terms eternal goodness, peace, piety, purity, diligence, godly ambition and all that wins us the esteem of both God and man.

Our thinking pattern should not conform to the patterns of our contemporaries or of the present world but be transformative. Our paradigm or pattern should shift from falsehood to truth, from evil and negativity to goodness and positivity, from dishonesty to honesty and integrity, from injustice to justice and righteousness, from impurity to purity, from what is sordid and ugly to what is lovely and truly beautiful, from things that spoil our testimony, our reputation, our goodwill to things that enhance these, from vice to virtue, from things that bring us condemnation and criticism to things that bring appreciation and praise to the Lord. When the pattern of our thoughts change in this manner, then the pattern of our speech, goals, priorities, actions, reactions, behaviour, emotions also change effectively and eternally.

Prateep V Philip