我们更喜欢谈论好消息还是坏消息呢？我们的谈话中有多少在反覆谈论公司或教会中不好的事呢？如果我们诚实，我们可能不得不承认，坏消息不仅传播得很快，而且还会占据我们的头脑。没错，有时候我们渴望分享好消息：宣布订婚，婚礼或孩子的出生。 但我们更常思想丑陋的事。 专家说，坏消息和冲突会更有卖点。
保罗希望腓立比人专注那些有美名的、可爱的、 清洁的、有德行和值得称赞的事。没错，有许多不好的事情需要去考虑，我们需要处理它们。然而保罗敦促说，让我们努力专注在好的事情上。让我们试着在我们的谈话中花更多的时间，从各种不同的角度去思想美丽的事情，而不是一遍又一遍地重复那些糟糕的事。
保罗自己肯定很擅长这个，因为他把自己当作一个榜样。但重点是，以神所创造的、可爱的和可称赞的事物充满我们的头脑，这会带给我们平安。思想美丽的事物会带来感恩，而我们都知道感恩的人也往往是非常满足、平和的人。
保罗说：“你们要这样行。” 这是在我们慷慨慈爱的神面前生活的最好方式！
主啊，求祢帮助我们看见祢的世界中那些好的、有美名的事物，为所有这些恩赐感谢祢，并因此被祢的平安充满。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
腓立比书 4:8-9
8 弟兄们，我还有未尽的话，凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的，若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。
9 你们在我身上所学习的、所领受的、所听见的、所看见的，这些事你们都要去行，赐平安的神就必与你们同在。
"If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." — Philippians 4:8
What do we like talking about more—good news or bad news? How much of our conversation includes hashing over bad things going on at work or in the church? If we are honest, we might have to admit that bad news not only travels fast but can also dominate our minds. True, sometimes we are eager to share good news: to announce an engagement, a wedding, or the birth of a child. But pondering the ugly is more common. Bad news and conflict sell more news, the experts say.
Paul wants the Philippians to concentrate on what is admirable, lovely, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy. Yes, there are plenty of bad things to ponder, and we have to deal with them. But let’s try, Paul urges, to focus on what is good. Let’s try to spend long stretches in our conversations pondering beautiful things from all kinds of angles rather than hashing over bad stuff again and again.
Paul must have been pretty good at this himself, since he holds himself up as a role model. But the point is that it brings us peace to fill our minds with all that God has made lovely and praiseworthy. Pondering what is beautiful leads to gratitude, and we all know that grateful people also tend to be very content, peaceful people.
Be that way, Paul says. It is the best way to live before the face of our generous, loving God!
Lord, help us to see the good and the admirable in your world, to give you thanks for all such gifts, and to be filled with your peace as a result. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
