Draw Close To GOD...Part Six

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme scripture

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” [Pro 12:25] – NIV

Additional Theme Scriptures:

“The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.” [Pro 15:30] – King James Version

Ø According to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, the ‘light of the eyes’ would be like ‘bright, cheerful eyes’. Imagine seeing someone smiling and notice how their eyes smile.

Ø Something positive, a good report, most always has an impact. Mostly affirmative. In this case, it strengthens the human structure.

“and this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end arrive.” [Matt 24:14] YLT

SIDEBAR: If you have not read Matt 24 please do. The verses leading up to vs 14 is part of an answer/prophecy Jesus shared with his disciples. They wanted a ‘sign’ when he would return. In verses 4-13, Jesus gives them a pretty gloomy prophetic outlook that would herald HIS return. HE mentioned there would be false Christs; there would be food shortages; there would be wars and earthquakes. But that is not all the horror people then would experience. It is just the START! Vs 13 suggests people may not survive. But in the midst of the ‘bad news’ there was GOOD NEWS! 

The gospel, would be preached the world over giving people hope and peace trying to survive the travail. The prophecy continues past vs 14 but in verse 22 the next bit of good news appears. It says at that time a great tribulation like no other will be experienced by the people and would wipe out every one on earth if it were not for the ‘elect’ or ‘chosen’ ones. Because of the hope of the GOOD NEWS there were those who were actively living and proclaiming that good news in their lives and the practitioners of that good news would be the reason the dreadfulness of that time would conclude. This indeed is a GOOD REPORT and would it not be wonderful and loving to share it?    

Quick series recap

 We are continuing in the next of the series of posts digging down into Phil 4:8-9. We have arrived at ‘of Good Report’ – sixth in the list of character attributes by the Apostle Paul to the Philippian congregation of believers.

As stated in part one, the goal of this series of posts is to deconstruct the verses of Phil 4:8 and contemplate each of the statements to understand how we continue to grow in GOD as we draw ever closer to HIM.

SPECIAL NOTE: This post concludes the ‘whatsoever things are’ portion of Phil 4:8. From here Paul shifts to ‘if there be’ which will comprise parts seven and eight respectively to the conclusion of this series.

¯       Part Six:

ü whatever things are of Good Report

From Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

Greek word: euphemos

Definitions: of Good Report:

" primarily, "uttering words or sounds of good omen," then, "avoiding ill-omened words," and hence "fair-sounding," "of good report,")”

[Strong’s Definitions G2163]

From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: “…things spoken in a kindly spirit, with good-will to others…”

To expound a little more on the definition:

From Strong’s Definitions”

εὔφημος eúphēmos, yoo'-fay-mos; from G2095 and G5345; well spoken of, i.e. reputable:—of good report.

Breaking it down ¯

This may seem odd to you, but have you ever contemplated the Lord’s birth announcement by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds and their response to it as a good report? “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” [Luke 2:10]—KJV

A simple statement to calm the fear in the shepherds at the Angel’s appearance  [and act of kindness] and to alert them to ‘good news’ that would strengthen many who would hear it. Read on for confirmation:

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” [Luke 2: 15-17] -- KJV

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”[Luke 2:18] -- NIV

Not wanting to change directions here, I use the ‘birth announcement’ not to refocus the topic of this post but to show the consummate example of ‘whatever things are ‘of good report’. Of course, Jesus entire human life was a continuation of ‘whatever things are of good report’ and finally HIS death and resurrection were the quintessential topic of the ‘Gospel’ which is of course the ‘Good News’ of the New Testament. As with each of the posts in this series, we learn from scripture how to imitate, emulate and demonstrate the many character qualities contained within Philippians 4:8.

This particular quality should be the easiest to practice because we all recognize what it means to say something nice to someone – to say something encouraging to someone – what it means to ‘cheer someone up’. If you started your ‘whatever things are’ exercise with this one you may find the process easier to build upon. Even if you are a most positive person it could be a challenge to always exhibit this behavior but with our minds and hearts transformed by HOLY SPIRIT the fruit of the SPIRIT will move you to and through this quality. Kindness is one of the fruitages of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Conclusion

As you meditate upon this, think of someone today who may need bright eyes to bring them a good report to strengthen them. And as always..

WHATEVER THINGS ARE of good report…continue considering these things.

Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

©Lightwritingmatters 2015