The Philemon congregation was Paul's beloved and his loving concern is shown in these letters. Paul puts his concern at the end of his letter (as a lawyer with closing arguments does to leave his lasting impression.) This admonition is also fitting for us being in the flesh and in this world. They should be a matter of our though and our concern. As the world appeals (and knows) the man of the flesh in all its advertisements, so Paul knows and warns us so we lead wholesome lives unto God!

Ones character are his virtues. They DEFINE him or her. We are very distinct and can look at our characters. From a spiritual point of view we are very different from the world. Their thoughts become their life and their character. But we are partakers of Christ and all His benefits. This means we are justified in the blood of the Lamb and are also sanctified in our holy lives being "transformed in the renewing of your minds." Let others say "he walks like a Christian!" It is challenged constantly because we walk in the flesh that does not want to be sanctified but strives to do the direct opposite. Truth, honesty, lovely, etc. You can take the opposite of these virtues and the flesh strives for them. No one else knows this better than the devil himself. He continually entices the child of God with the "whiles of the devil" as Paul states. Paul then warns the Church of this!

We too must CULTIVATE these Christian virtues as a farmer does with his crop. In our lives negatively...."every imagination of the thought of the heart was evil continually" towards sin. Amidst the same world we must CONTINUALLY cultivate these things. 6 of them which are really one in the same. These MUST define, lead, and control the Christian!

*Truth. How important is the truth? All of life we MUST speak the truth AT ALL TIMES. If you don't speak it, your character is nothing. Paul speaks about it objectively as God and the Word of God IS TRUTH! No lies....not even a single one! We must promote and cultivate those things that are TRUE! Relationships unravel without the truth!

*Honest things. Those things that are to be ESTEEMED! Those things that belong to God, His Glory, and His Church!

*Just. We use justice and righteousness interchangeably. How we look in GOD'S EYES. Contemplate on things that God approves of!

*Pure. Undefiled with sin. Those things that are pure and untainted with sin and other things. We are NOT to taint ourselves.

*Lovely. Lovely to behold and things that are delightful to behold. What things are pleasant in the sight of God?!

*Of Good Report. Our report of God will also become our report of men.

These things become the very basis of our sanctified life. Lust conceives and we must not let these things cultivate within us. But, getting rid of them we think of those things of virtue. Is this how men know us? Oh, men will judge you especially when you walk in the ways of the Lord, are faithful to it without compromising it in the least, but are these things the definition of our character in front of GOD'S face so we both grow and bear fruit?! We should write a list and say those are the things we love, cultivate, and hold important because we want to be to the praise and glory of GOD!