Luke 1.5-17: In thinking on whatever is lovely, our attention might not be drawn to John the Baptist. He is somewhat of a rough character, yet he is one who 'calls forth love', which is what lovely means. John's whole mission is to 'call forth love' from God's people to God and his ways. His own devotion is significant to call people to that which is rightly to be most lovely - which is the glory of God we know in Jesus Christ. This was John's mission - that Jesus might become more, and that John might become less.

Psalm 8: The foundation of our thanksgiving is that God is mindful of us. Even in the places of nothing, we have a God who has not abandoned. From that nothing, the Spirit hovers and recreates life within us. Let us give thanks!

Philippians 4.8-9: Noble refers to a characteristic of something that exhibits within itself a higher order. Nobility speaks to higher principles of power, of benevolence, of sovereignty. To think on what is noble is to draw ourselves upward toward higher things than our mind normally might. These leads to Christ and Christ's reintegration of our whole selves in sanctification and eternal life.

Philippians 4.4-9: We start a series on Paul's instruction to 'Think on such things.' The spiritual battle is often within the mind, of having our minds transformed to the patterns of Christ rather than the patterns of this world. The call is to maturity, to allow our minds and souls to live up to the resurrected body that is promised to us in eternity.

II Kings 6.24-7.20: In this second part of this text, we look at the conclusion. We see an enchanted victory, one not gained by way of military strategy or strength, but by the mysterious hand of God. Lepers lead the victory train and through them the windows of heaven are opened to give the people relief. As a faithful prophet with a good word, Elisha foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the gift from the windows of heaven that frees us and nourishes us to salvation.