As Paul continues to list his instructions for our thought life, he adds a word that, at first glance, doesn’t seem to fit.

He adds the word “lovely.”

Lovely. This word brings to mind things associated with my wife, and with my daughters. It’s not exactly along the same lines as the rest of this list.

Or is it?

Interestingly, as I took a deeper look at this word, I found that it is used no where else in the New Testament. In fact, this word isn’t used as a virtue in any ancient text.

So just what does Paul mean by this word?

First of all, lovely refers to that which is lovable by its very nature. If something is able to be loved, then it is lovely.

Another way of putting it is something lovely is attractive, delightful for beauty, harmony or grace.

It also carries the connotation of “agreeable.”

So just what does this mean for us, as we strive to dwell on things that are lovely?

God excites love. And his goal is to bring that love more fully into our lives. As we think on things that are lovely, as we think on the concept of love, we are suddenly reminded of the fact that God himself is love. Thinking on lovely things is to think of God himself.

1 John 4:8:

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16:

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

As we think on things that are lovely, let’s directs our thoughts directly to God himself.

What could be better on our mind than that?

How often do your thoughts turn towards God each day? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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