TNRPLAEP
Yes, it’s spelled correctly. 🙂
Philippians 4:8,9 is one of my favorite new testament passages. It has helped me thousands of times and I’m not kidding. Verse 8 says:
8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
Do you see it? TNRPLAEP…..(I say it like this, “Tenerplaep) For some odd reason I have remembered that acronym and used it a ton of times. I do hope you will, too. Years ago this passage was to be memorized for a bible study class I took, and by memorizing the weird word, it helped me with the verse.
Truth
It starts out, “Whatever is true…………………………..now, with that in mind, here is another question for you? Yep, it’s that age-old question that never seems to go away, does it? “What is Truth?”
The very good news is this, God’s word describes and defines truth. We children of God are to take “Truth” to the ends of the earth. It’s a command, not a “perhaps, if you feel like it.”
People need to hear truth. Not my truth and your truth or “Debbie Downer” truth and “Danny Downer” truth or “Ursula Upper” truth or “Ulysses Upper” truth. Folks, there is no such thing. That definition is…………….wait for it………………………called an opinion. Learned that in the 2nd grade, I believe. God says that His children are assigned the task of speaking the TRUTH………….. in love. So….if we are thinking along these lines, filling our minds with truth and grace, it will spill out in our speech and the way we live out our lives. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Col. 4:6
How Is your Speech?
Have you ever looked at the world through naysayers’s lenses or been in a room where one person can set the mood with negative talk?Before you know it, everyone around you becomes a “Debbie” or “Danny” Downer!” And also before you know it, everyone is in a negative “out of sorts” mood and is mad at something or some body, and…..well…..here comes the blame! What is your mind dwelling on? Can you change that around?
9 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.” The answer is yes, you can. You can by renewing your mind by reading God’s word. (Romans 12:1,2)
The Pointing Finger…
In a day and age where people are pointing fingers and placing blame on others for things said and done, let us turn that pointy finger inward and evaluate ourselves first and foremost. “Lord, change me!”
The bible says that believers are to take the “high road” with their speech.
So let Us Be Kind In Our Speech, but let us speak. People need to hear truth.
Here Comes the Challenge:
Let Us Speak with Truth and Grace
Brothers and Sisters…..we have an assignment from the most high God, our heavenly Father. He does not want us to be politely silent. He wants us to be equipped to speak truth, with boldness and grace. To speak truth with grace is what is required of us. Prepare yourselves by daily cracking open the “Good Book” (there truly is a reason for that name!:) ) and ask God to help your understanding as you read, meditate (Josh 1:8) study, pray and equip yourselves for being used today to promote God, His Word, Truth and Salvation. Get real good at answering the question people ask from time to time, “Tell me about the hope that I see you have.”
Be ready to give an account for the hope that is in you. Be Ready. Be Diligent, and Be disciplined.
And………….LOVE.
