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.
Phil. 4:8
Webster defines "lovely" as being of the very best kind. Lovely doesn't refer to the mediocre or the good. We're talking about the very best.
In Luke 15 Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. A son runs away from his father to live in sin, but finds himself in despair. He returns home to beg for forgiveness from his father, but that's not his father's concern.
"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate."
In the same way, when we come to God, he doesn't care where we've been or what we've been doing. He's concerned about where we're going. Our God is happy to forgive if we return to him. He wants to clothe us in his very best robes. So, what are these robes? Psalm 30:11 says that he clothes us in gladness. Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels."
God clothes us in salvation, righteousness, and gladness. Just like he clothed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he sacrificed the Lamb, Jesus, in order to clothe us in salvation and rid us of our sin and shame. He wants us to have the best. God wants us to be lovely because he is lovely. When he saves our souls he clothes us in that which is lovely- himself.
God is truth. God and all of his creation are deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. Think about these things.
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!"
Psalm 84:1
God clothes us in salvation, righteousness, and gladness. Just like he clothed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he sacrificed the Lamb, Jesus, in order to clothe us in salvation and rid us of our sin and shame. He wants us to have the best. God wants us to be lovely because he is lovely. When he saves our souls he clothes us in that which is lovely- himself.
God is truth. God and all of his creation are deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. Think about these things.
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!"
Psalm 84:1
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