We think about using our time better. We think about unfollowing or unfriending people. We complain about what people are saying, what the media are saying, the noise that is coming into our hearts and our minds, and the tension that seeps into our bodies and souls.

Paul talks about spending some of that time telling God about our concerns rather than worrying about them. And then he give us something to do with the time and attention we gain from not worrying.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

What would it look like to take our attention and devote it increasingly to thinking about what matters?

+++

The Greek word that Paul uses that we translate “true” has the sense of being reliable, honest. We could probably think about it as verifiable. Pilate had raised the question, “What is truth?” in the hours leading up to the crucifixion. And Jesus could have answered then, as he had said a couple hours before: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Pilate, familiar with political intrigues, understood that there are many things that are passed off as truth, or are spoken as truth to achieve power. But Jesus was less concerned with things that appear to be true, or arguments about the nature of truth.  Instead, talking to his followers, he was helping them have a picture of how to get to God, how to live in a way that matters, and what would serve as the measure of what is true.

So thinking about whatever is true includes, for followers of Jesus, thinking about Jesus.

+++

More tomorrow.