Sermonette for Saturday
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 4:8
Can you name the twelve men who were sent by the Moses to spy the the promised land of Canaan? No, like you, I can remember the names of only two of them, Joshua and Caleb. Why don’t we remember the names of the other ten? Because they brought back a bad report. They were negative thinkers, dismayed by the obstacles and discouraged by the prospects as they could see them. They doubted God’s ability to help them achieve the very purpose that God had delivered them from Egypt for. Forget the bad report, consider the good report, and rejoice that God is able.
Of all the good reports that we can consider, the good report of Caleb and Joshua must be high on the list. If you and I are going to amount to anything for God, if we are to have a good testimony, if we are to be a help to God’s Assembly, if we are to be effective in our support of the Gospel, if we are to find God’s purpose for our lives, we must become aware that God will be our strength and shield. It was faith in Christ that saved our souls, and it will be faith in Christ that will enable us to live for Him. Even the great thinkers of the world acknowledge the role of faith in our accomplishments. The German philosopher Wolfgang Goethe declared that epochs of faith are epochs of fruitfulness, while epochs without faith are devoid of all permanent good. The good report of the Word of God is that God will enable us to do His will. If we grasp this by faith, we will accomplish for Him.
Think about this! Our text today tells us to think about this good report. Actually, there are many good reports in the Bible for us to think about. We can think about the Old Testament heroes of the faith and how their examples can guide and encourage us. We can think about the Gospels and their portrayal of the Lord Jesus, with all the blessings that flow from those accounts. We can think about the apostles and their pioneer adventures in the book of Acts, with lessons that continue for us today. We can think about the doctrines and directions that the epistles provide to us, and also about the hope and purpose we can obtain from the Revelation. The Bible is a Good Report for us to think upon.
What will occupy our minds for the unending ages of eternity? Maybe we should be getting some practice now by thinking on the things that God has set before us. -Jim MacIntosh