VIRTUE REQUIRES A CHANGE OF THOUGHT - Philippians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on thee things.
The second precious promise that is given to you is virtue. Peter tells you that you are to diligently add to your faith virtue. Virtue will not magically appear in your life but you must learn to diligently seek it and allow it to change your life so that you might be a partaker of the divine nature. While you may live in the world, you do not need to be of this world. Instead, the inward character of Christ must reside within you so that when people see you, they understand that there is something different about you. The light of God must shine within you and you must allow yourself to be visible to all so that God’s glory will be evident to all who see you.
Before you can add virtue to your faith, you must first understand what virtue even is. Because of the importance Solomon puts upon a virtuous wife you might think that virtue is something women must learn to apply to their lives. However, the definition of virtue out of Strong’s Greek Dictionary is manliness (valor), excellence, virtue, and praise. Thayer’s Greek Definitions gives us the definition of virtue as a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness; any particular moral excellence, as modesty and purity. By its very definition, virtue is important for all Christians.
The apostle Paul shows you another definition of virtue in Philippians 4:8 that collaborates both the definition in Strong’s and in Thayer’s. Paul tells you that things that are honest, just, pure, lovely, and are of a good report are virtuous. This list of five things indicates inward character that should be praiseworthy, things that one should dwell upon. What is virtue? According to Paul, virtue is having honest thoughts. Virtue is having pure thoughts. Virtue is having friendly and acceptable thoughts. Virtue is having reputable thoughts. Virtue starts with a change of thought.
In order to understand virtue better, you should consider what cannot be in your mind. If you are going to have honest thoughts, this means you cannot dwell on how you could cheat someone. If you are going to have pure thoughts, this means you cannot dwell on immoral issues. If you are going to have friendly and acceptable thoughts, you cannot hold grudges or think how you are going to get even when someone wrongs you. If you are going to have reputable thoughts, this means you cannot dwell upon things that would cause others to lower their perception of you. You must understand that while others may not be able to read your thoughts, God can. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
Virtue begins in the mind. It is the transformation of living your life to a higher standard. It is understanding that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Virtue requires that you fill your mind and your heart with things that please God. By changing your mind and your heart, you understand that your life will be different and the outward appearance that is seen by man will naturally change as you learn to dwell on things that are virtuous. As you diligently seek to change your thoughts, your life will be praiseworthy in the eyes of God. By faith you accepted HIS free gift and by virtue you allowed HIM to change your mind and your heart.