Philippians Commentary
Philippians 4:8-9
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 these things. Those things, that ye hath both learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.
Because it is pure, lovely, and of good report, giving blood is the type of “thing” that Paul’s letter tells us to think upon as a way for us to feel closer to God. Because the recipients who receive blood are unknown to their donors, those who provide these transfusions can be classified as the purest givers because typically the positive outcomes of their good actions cannot be directly witnessed or observed. The patient receiving the benefit remains anonymous and, in most cases, cannot send any message of thanks or appreciation. Taking Paul’s term “lovely” to mean showing or related to love, one can easily see that providing blood, the very substance of one’s own body and being, for another person is physically and symbolically powerful expression of love, or loveliness.
BLOOD DONATION, LOVELY, PURE, AND OF GOOD RAPPORT
By Dr. John Armitage
Happily, blood recruitment and donation is also of very good rapport. Giving blood, hosting drives, recruiting donors, and volunteering time and other activities in support of transfusion are almost universally acclaimed as good deeds. Such high esteem is one reason that the worldwide mission of supplying blood for transfusion attracts 100s of millions of donors and 100,000s of drive hosting organizations each year.
Wonderfully, as a prime example of the power Paul encourages us to tap, when we merely think about the miracle of transfusion, we can experience spiritual uplift. Whether or not we participate in a blood drive or give blood ourselves, just thinking about this act of caring generates good feelings in ourselves and about the world we live in. I invite you to prove this effect by reading some of the testimonial messages below.
