Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
What is “Commendable”?
As I have been looking at the definition for commendable over the last couple of weeks, the thought of yeah, but… keeps coming up. Commendable is praiseworthy, but what is praiseworthy? Commendable is admirable, but what is admirable?
As I picked verses for this month, I chose ones with the word commendable or commended, or commmend, but I hope you will read the context and find what it is that was commendable. What did the people do that deserved commendation?
“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
2 Corinthians 10:18 ESV
What is commendable to God? Proverbs 12:8 tells us that insight and sound judgement are commendable. Hebrews 11:1 is one of my favorite scriptures. Because of this month’s scripture plan, I kept reading.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.”
Hebrews 11:1-2 ESV
Keep reading Hebrews 11, it gives many examples of people commended to God by their faith. I know seeing these other people’s faith condensed in one chapter always encourages me!
Are you sharing your faith with your children? How are you teaching your children to develop their own faith? Do you share with your children when you are relying on God to take care of something and then how he provides for you?
Think back over the last couple of weeks, months, or years. (Depending on your children’s ages and what they’ll remember.) What has happened in your life that they have seen and has come from God. What healing, what provision has he given to you that you can share how the God you place your faith in has worked in your life?
This doesn’t have to be a sit down conversation. In fact, I find it is generally a better conversation if we are driving, or going for a walk, or playing something and you plant these little seeds of faith in their day-to-day life.
Can we commend God?
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”
Psalm 145:4 ESV
I believe we must! By sharing God’s works in the Bible as well as how he’s working in our lives, we commend him. Are you telling your children, your friends how great your God is? Singing songs is an easy way to break into a topic with our children.
“My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do. The mountains are his the valleys are his. The stars are his handiwork too. My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do, for YOU!”
Another song we sing frequently with our kids is from VeggieTales, “God is bigger than the boogie man, bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV, God is bigger than the boogie man and he’s watching out for you and me.”
It leads to deeper conversations about what they are fearing and whether or not they can trust God to handle it. Spoiler alert: God can handle it all 🙂
Sharing with others
When we need a reminder of how commendable our God is or encouragement to share with adults, I like “How great thou art”.
We serve a truly great God and should be at no shortage of things to commend him to others. Unfortunately, I allow myself to get bogged down in the day-to-day trials and struggles and forget the big picture sometimes. The scriptures for this month should help with that! here’s a song to help as well.
Come back in February for “whatever is commendable”.
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Whatever is lovely Philippians 4:8-9 scripture list
Meet Melinda!
Melinda is a Christian, a wife, and a mom of 6. She has a blended family and has spent much time trying to learn how to "mom". She's still not perfect, but it makes her that much more grateful for God's grace and mercy in her life.