WHATEVER, Pt. 5—Whatever is Lovely

The Philippians are instructed by Paul to focus on the things that are lovely (Gr. prosphilés, ‘to be friendly towards something worthy of personal affection or of being prized’). The word has the idea that some things are of such high quality that it naturally draws out love and care towards it. God is ‘lovely’ in the sense that His essence and character are perfect. This means He is of such high quality, He should naturally draw out love, praise, and worship from humans (Ps. 100:1-5; 150:1-6). God’s loveliness should attract our love! Humans are designed by God to recognize and respond to high- value things or people. As God is the highest-value thing in the universe, people should love the God who loves them!