Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I always love the exhortations and conclusions to Paul’s Epistles. Though fragmented and sometimes without clear transitions, I love how blunt Paul is in some of his closing remarks. It could be because I am blunt and straight forward myself. But I also think it’s because there is such a hefty amount of the Scripture that can be carried over the “principlizing bridge.”
But anywho – I went to camp for the first time EVER this week! It was CRAZY! I ate things that I never knew were edible. I yelled until my voice started sounding like James Earl Jones. I also learned some things about myself.
Since being at CBC I’ve heard a lot of people tell me how critical I am. After hearing it enough, I started believing it. During one of the altar times this past week, however, God revealed to me the positive attribute of what people were saying was negative. I have a passion for the truth. I never understood why I was geared this way – the analytical, neurotic, sometimes insensitive and brutal tendencies I have about proclaiming God’s Word and presenting it the way it was meant to be preached. I didn’t realize I was just trying to put into practice what I’ve learned, knew, and wanted to share to the world.
Sometimes when people don’t understand you, have a different passion then you, or are just plain ignorant, they try to judge you, stereotype you, and change you to fit their thought of who you “should be.” Take what you’ve learned and put it into practice – whether it’s worship, preaching, art, or accounting. God has made you the way you are so you can impact the world around you! Find the positive in what everyone thinks is negative – you’d be surprised how much it changes your self-image!
I am Bobby Hill, and I am passionate about the truth.
And no, this isn’t very applicable to the biblical text.
BOBERT HILL 