Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

Years ago, I considered asking a bunch of 4 to 8 year-olds these seven questions:

1. What is true?
2. What is just?
3. What is pure?
4. What is lovely?
5. What is commendable?
6. What is excellent?
7. What is worthy of praise?

In Luke 18:16 Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” That made me think that perhaps little children might have very pure, sweet, and beautiful ways of answering those seven questions, which come from Philippians 4:8. I even thought I might be able to write a book, or at least an article from this brilliant project.
 
Yesterday, I asked them to one of our little five-year-old parishioners, Nora Snow. My favorite answer she gave was that what is lovely is – hugs! Little children do have pure, sweet, and beautiful ways of answering those questions, but they also have very silly answers and lots of “I-don’t-knows,” especially to big words like “commendable.” Our God loves and welcomes little children, but he doesn’t call us to remain little children. He wants us to grow and mature so that we will have deeper and unshakable understandings of what is true, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Ephesians 4:14-15).

The more we mature in the knowledge of the love of God through Jesus as individuals, and as the church, the more our hearts will “rejoice in the Lord always” as Paul commends to us (Phil 4:4). By the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we will gain more profound understandings of what is true, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. We will gain more and more peace in the knowledge, understanding, and belief, that our God himself is true, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of all praise!

I didn’t write a book or publish an article based on the results of the fun answers of little children, but at least it got me thinking more about these seven important ideas that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to call us all to consider. I pray that this little Compass article might inspire some of you to rejoice and think on these things too! Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:9).

John Laffoon
Deacon
Minister to Youth & Families