Whatever is admirable
To do without for the sake of someone else, to avoid the lure of this world's pleasures. That is admirable. God will say "well done."
Starting this out it is important to understand that we can not earn Grace. Nothing we do will buy the grace we need to enter heaven. To be admirable though is about our actions affect how God see us and how others see our light of Grace.
Eph 2: 8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
It is hard to break down Admirable then because it makes you think of doing something. The word is often used as a way of condoning a favorable action. “What an admirable thing you did for…. That was an admirable gesture.” So you see the dilemma, how to you make admirable not about the actions themselves but about the Grace that affords us the chance to take action in Christ.
Webster’s defines it as: deserving the highest esteem. Breaking down the Greek we see it as a combination of the Greek word Eu =”Well or Good”, example well said or well done: Phemi = said, shouted, done,
Well Said, Well Done… Hmmm. Again though, said when we “do things/actions”. Admirable in the case of Phil 4:8 is translated as of “Good Report”. How do we make this not be about us though? How do we turn this to finding the needs of others? What is God looking for that is of Good Report?
In Ephesians Paul calls us to be Children of the light. This means forsaking our old way of life to live by the example of Christ and this requires sacrifice on our part for the sake of others. As followers of Christ we do this by doing without for the sake of someone else, and to avoiding the lure of this world's pleasures as an honor of the sacrifice made for us. That is admirable, and how we build Report in God’s eyes. That is when God will say "well done."
To start Paul explains what we should not do.
Eph 4:17-19 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
These things Paul warns us about are selfish in nature and the last line “with a continual lust for more.” , gives us and indication the power of worldly pleasure can have. Paul goes on to tell us what our lives should look like
Eph4: 20-24You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
It is our desires that that corrupt and make our actions of bad report, so for God to see our actions and for him to see them in “good report” we must take action be the Grace of God to put off our old ways. Knowing that there is nothing we can do, but it is Him who will clean our hearts takes a tremendous pressure off our actions. This frees us to live under God’s Grace and not the laws of action. Living by the Grace of God’s strength builds report into our actions towards others.
Paul continues to write that, that the way we act towards others not only benefits them it benefits us.
Eph 4: 29-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
It is admirable as Children of light to build others up and to forgive. Those go against our selfish nature and we have to give out our own desires so that we can shine as the light Paul writes about. Jesus said in Mathew 5:
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
So be admirable give your up your worldly desires for the sake of Christ sacrifice, so that others can see the light of God’s grace through you.
