Series text: Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, …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. “

Isaiah 52:7, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings [gospel], that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good [gospel], that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Compare Nahum 1:15).

Worry. Worry. Worry. On top of one's personal and family problems we have national ones that threaten our very living. America's national debt is increasing at more than $100 million an hour. Over 40% of all babies are born to unmarried mothers. The U.S. is dead last worldwide in education's literacy and math. 35% of all young men from the age of 21 to the age of 30 "are living at home with their parents or a close relative." The U.S. has the highest illegal drug use on the planet. An average of 20 million new STD cases per year. Thanks to unchecked immigration, membership in criminal gangs has exploded. More than 4 million "adult" websites on the internet; and the traffic is extra high even among so called Christians. The military spends $42 million a year on Viagra. 62% support gay marriage. 60 million children have been murdered through abortion mills. We can see all of this threatening us and our way of life just by casually looking at the daily news reports. .[i]

According to Philippians 4 God does not want His faithful children to worry about anything. He is ready to boost our morale as it were. However, He points out that some of the solution lies within us. God knows what makes us tick. He has our solution. In fact, He has forewarned us in His Word to think a certain way.

THINK LOVELY.

Our modern meaning of "lovely"[ii] is attractiveness. But a better definition of this word "lovely" (a word Vincent notes is only here in the NT) would in the text context convey the sense of being acceptable or pleasing. Strong's Greek Dictionary defines this word lovely^G4375 as "friendly towards or acceptable." The Pulpit Commentary's statement indicates this difference when it says the original word means, "lovely; not beautiful, but pleasing, lovable; whatsoever things would attract the love of holy souls." Their comment, "not beautiful" would mean then, "not in a mundane way." To this, Robertson's Word Pictures agrees that the Greek word means "pleasing" plus "winsome."    προσφιλής = "friendly, grateful, acceptable" (Mounce).

What are some lovely things?

"LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM." It is Christmas time and one may be hearing Christmas carols, such as "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." During the fall time of the year in 1959 I visited the "little town" of Bethlehem. The town is on one of the "hills" where even then shepherds moved their flocks. Our bus approached it from the north coming from Jerusalem around another "hill" and the panorama was much like the picture above. Today, sixty years afterwards, the city would be unrecognizable I'm sure since its population has increased from a 300-1000 to around 28,000 Palestinians who live among tall condominium-type buildings.

WHY BETHLEHEM? The word "lovely" designates spiritual beauty to me. And the apostle quotes Isaiah and tells us that a beautiful sight is the proclamation of the message of the good news of Jesus saving us from our sins and from the corruptions of the times. "How beautiful are the feet of him that brings the gospel" (Romans 10:15). It is a pleasing and acceptable sight. The first "messenger"[iii] to proclaim the "good news" of the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem was an Heavenly Angel followed by a host of Angels. It was at night in the hills of Bethlehem that the first angel announced to shepherds, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10). 

SEEN BY ANGELS. "God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and was received up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16, EMTV).

THE LOVELY GOSPEL. God does not mention the time of the year when Jesus was born. We not only are not told when, but we are not told it is acceptable to God to celebrate it in any special worship. We are only commanded specifically to commemorate His death around the weekly Lord's Table (1 Corinthians 10, 11, 16; Acts 20:7). However, it is appropriate to "think" of the lovely announcements and spread of the good news of every facet of Jesus' arrival on earth, His growth, His ministry, His crucifixion, burial, and His resurrection, and eventually His trip to the right hand of the Father to reign (Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 15). Surely it is lovely to think of the early Christians announcing the good news. It is appropriate to think of the lovely work and trials of evangelists throughout history. How beautiful are their feet.

It is lovely to know that of the 28000 population of current Bethlehem one-third actually profess a belief in Jesus. And this is in the current nation of Palestine in the Middle East where Islam is a threatening force.

LOVELY IS DOING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. Not only is the gospel a beauty to behold and think about, but the application of the teachings of Christ in our lives is a lovely thing because we are thereby acceptable to God. That is, it is a lovely thing, i.e., acceptable to God, e.g., for us to behave patiently in the face of what life gives us. "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (1 Peter 2:20).

LOVELY IS OUR LIVING SACRIFICE. The dedication of we ourselves to Christ is a lovely thing. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1,2).

Summary: Perhaps you have noticed that the things Paul gave us to think about in Philippians 4:8 have many of the same synonyms. Lovely is another word that fits in these family of words and complements the list. We are to think "true" things; true's synonym is light; we are to walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). As children we in turn are to bear fruit; the fruit of the Spirit of God is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:9). We are to prove and think upon what is acceptable to the Lord (v. 10).

Our prayer: God help us to think upon things lovely, acceptable, and pleasing in Your eyes. When challenges and threats come, help us to react patiently in a lovely, acceptable way.