Jana and I have a special pie plate that looks like a pumpkin pie. So, naturally, you can only use it to hold a pumpkin pie. As great as a cherry or apple pie might be, it just wouldn’t be right to put one in this plate.

Imagine, and we’re going to get a little gross here so stop reading aloud if there are children in the room. Imagine if I handed you this nice warm pie plate, your taste buds got all set for pumpkin pie and you opened it to find … brussels sprouts. What an abomination!

You see, this pie plate has been set apart for a special purpose – to hold a pumpkin pie. In theological terms, we could say this pie plate is “sanctified’ – a big scary theological term that simply means “set apart for a special purpose.” So, I guess we could say this is a holy pie plate. It has been sancti-pied. (Sorry. My friend Joe gave me that really bad pun.)

You and I are like this pie plate. God has set us apart for a special purpose. Instead of being filled with pie, we are to be filled with His Holy Spirit. When people get a glimpse inside us they shouldn’t see – ugh – brussels sprouts. They should see evidence of God’s Holy Spirit.

So what are some of those evidences? Well, the fruit of the spirit is love. That means our life should be filled with joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, gentleness, self-control, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23) You get the picture. Filled with warm pumpkin pie – not brussels sprouts.

God has set us apart – sanctified us – to be containers of His Holy Spirit. It’s just not right to fill a pie holder with brussels sprouts and it’s just not right to fill our hearts and minds with vile, inappropriate things of this world.

It’s what goes into a pie that determines whether it’s a good pie or a great pie. (I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad pie.) It’s also what goes into us that determines the fruit of our life and what we have to offer to those around us. Paul gives us a recipe for what we should be putting into our hearts and minds. When we fill ourselves with these, we become as appetizing and comforting to others as a nice warm pumpkin pie – with ice cream, of course.

Paul’s recipe for what goes into a Christian’s heart and mind – Philippians 4:8.
A filter for what we allow to pass through our eyes, ears, and thoughts:
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Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.