Excellence

“If there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil.
4:8).
There is much that occupies our thoughts. The
world in which we live is a one where information
arrives immediately, regardless how distant the
origin of the story. In an instant we have details on
events, even from remote places. We are now
accustomed to being “in the living room” of people
all over the world. Reality is that our world is
becoming much smaller, whether or not we accept
it. This is both good and bad.
This is good because it intensifies our
awareness and our sensitivity to people who are
very different from us. It helps us to see “behind
the curtain” into the lives of fellow human beings
with whom we otherwise (without the
technological advances we have today) would
likely never have been able to connect. For
instance, today we can be fully cognizant of the
plight of Israelis and Palestinians in the Levant,
Coptic Christians in Egypt, myriad refugees
throughout eastern Europe, and a host of other
marginalized and oft-persecuted groups. We are
able to see firsthand the struggle and the pain of
people who—for the most part—are simply trying
to survive.
Yet this is bad because it can easily dominate
our thoughts. It can consume us to the point that
we become people who think only in terms of
what is horrific and immoral and wicked. While
there certainly is a great deal amiss in our society,
we also must recognize that, as children of God,
we are blessed and favored and holy. God has set
us apart for his own good purposes, and that is
excellent. In fact, it is worthy of praise.
Let us spend time today—and every day—
thinking on things that are good, righteous, holy,
virtuous, and worthy of praise. Let us regularly
recall the innumerable blessings and gifts that we
each have been granted by our great God. –Ricky