Today's Passage - Phil 4:8-9

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 4:8-9   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   "...Think about such things."  Think about what?  "Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable."  In other word, you need to be filled with things that are lovely and pure, things from God!  You will live out whatever is inside your mind.  If your mind is filled with stories from soap operas, then your life will be like a soap opera; if your mind is filled with God's Word, then you will live out the life of Christ.   I have heard a story about a fantasy island.  It constantly makes a mesmerizing music, and any ship that passed by it will be attracted by the music and sail towards the island with no return.  Once there was a captain who found out that his ship was about to pass the fantasy island.  He requested that each sailor to learn one instrument, and when they went near the island, captain asked everyone to start playing their instruments together.  When everyone is focused on playing their instruments, they don't hear the music from the fantasy island, and thus the whole ship was saved.  In the same way, we need to constantly think about God's Word in order to replace our sinful thinking, and thus we can overcome all types of temptation in life.   Not only that we need to guard our mind, but Paul also asked us to "put it into practice."  We can memorize God's Word and talk about God's Word all we want, ten points here, twenty posts there; but if we are not putting His Word into practice then these scripture passages are always no more than dead rules to us and have no benefit at all.  As soon as we are willing to follow God's Word, the Lord promised that "the God of peace will be with you."  What is filling your mind - Things of the world or things of God?  Colossians 3:10 says that a new person must be renewed in knowledge.  Are you willing to allow God to rule over your heart and mind each and every day?            Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I come before you and I want to proclaim that not only you are my savior, but you are also the ruler of my heart and mind.  If there's anything in my mind that doesn't please you, I ask you to remove it!   May the Holy Spirit help me to be constantly filled with God's word, so that I may live the form of the Lord.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!