Hi
Every August 6, the Government of Jamaica posts it’s lists of honorees. These honorees ate commended for their contribution to national growth and development. And while it’s not as recognized as the Nobel prizes, the recipients have included local-international legends such as Louise Bennet, Bob Marley and Usain Bolt; as well as icons such as Thomas Lecky (Feel free to research their work).
In their respective fields, these people have set the bar and have become standards by which others are judged. I doubt that any of them accomplished these entirely on their own, but it is their dedication to their work which propelled them to the levels of commendation.
Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about things which are commendable
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 NRSV
The truth is, most of us humans desire recognition for our diligence in whichever field we apply ourselves. And there’s nothing wrong with that UNLESS we seek said recognition for the wrong things, wrong means or the wrong reasons. Then we run the risk of implicating ourselves or gaining notoriety rather than positive commendations. With the ways in which popular role models currently inundate media space; one may wonder WHAT kind of recognition it is that people actually seek.
When we are invited to think about commendable things, we recognize that the Source of our commendation is eternal. And the reward/award is likelier to occur in heaven rather than on earth. That being said; we also note that we are encouraged to THINK about commendable behavior – which suggests that our thought life determines our actions. A young theology student is reported to have told an examiner in an oral exam, “if one doesn’t practice positive responses in advance; then when the situation comes, one is not ready.”
In the same way that those national honorees pressed faithfully to their trade; so it is that we ought also to think about how best we might please God with our actions. And when thoughts become actions become habits become character; may it be that they are indeed commendable on either side of eternity!
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
