Reproduce or Produce

Phil. 4:8 – 9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (NASB)


If you can carry it, then you can produce it. Our thoughts today result in our actions tomorrow. Therefore, we must cultivate thoughts that are good, not malicious intent, self-serving practices, if we desire mercy, grace, and favor to trump justice. See you can reproduce what we have seen, are told to do, what is demonstrated for us, and taught to us. However, this does not allow us to produce anything; only reproduce everything because there is no depth, just surface. We know the right words, can give the expected response, like the magician, it is all part of the grand illusion; the metaphorical slight of the hand. All because we do not dwell on the true, the faithful, the helpful, the honest, the love, the accurate, the forgiveness, and the genuine things that allows us to move forward. We would rather dwell, unfortunately, on the negative, replay ill intent in our heads, selfishness in our hearts, and hold to the hurt. Thus, we cannot produce what is not in us, it not some random reason why we are not in a better state of mind, it is intentional. Until we are willing to be authentic and genuine with what is within us, and learn to be free of the self-imposed figurative prison, we only replicate, not generate. Once we allow ourselves to be free, then we can do what Phil 4:8 says, and then begin to practice it as Phil 4:9 says. The decision is each person’s…choose or not choose by being honest and truthful to self; it is up to each us…