To live Is Christ? Finding Joy in Philippians – October 5 Readings: Philippians 1:21-26

 

Finding Joy in Philippians  

Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world. 

Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."  

As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage. 

Today's Reading:  Philippians 1-4  Focus Passage - Philippians 1:21-26

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

 

Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah 13-14, Galatians 6, Psalm 112:1–6, Proverbs 24:17–18 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: To Live Is Christ? 

Paul is my hero.

Of course, Jesus is the Savior who purchased me and the Lord to whom I must submit every day. But Paul is the human example who impresses me so much. He was bold in the proclamation of Christ, risking his life on a regular basis. There was nothing he wouldn't do to advance the gospel. He was willing to put his culture behind him and give up many of the trappings of Judaism to reach Gentiles. He endured persecution such as I can't even imagine and never let it slow him down.

On a pastor's resume, he generally gives a brief statement of his personal philosophy of ministry. That is essentially what Paul gives in Philippians 1:20-26. He begins with a summary statement in verse 20 from yesterday's reading.

My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

It was his greatest fear that in some way he might shame his Savior. Instead, he desired that in everything he did Christ would be honored. If he lived, he wanted to honor Christ. If he died, he wanted his death to honor Christ. For him, it was all about Christ. When he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, all of his dreams, hopes, and ambitions were subsumed into a desire for the glory of Jesus to shine through him.

At the time of the writing of Philippians, he was in prison in Rome and did not know his fate. Maybe Caesar would look at the facts and release him. Maybe Caesar would decide to end his life. He did not know. In a strange statement, in verse 23, Paul claims that he is torn between his options. Most of us hold on to life but Paul was so captivated by Christ that his heart's desire was to go to heaven and see his Savior face to face.

But he was also willing to stay in his difficult and challenging life if that would produce "fruitful labor" that would bring many to Christ and help many grow strong in him. His personal preference - to be with Jesus - was of no value compared to doing faithfully the work God had set before him.

His life motto was pretty simple, as stated in verse 21.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Living is all about Jesus - his will, his ambitions and purposes, his work. And the more that living is about Jesus, the more that death becomes gain. Paul was not suicidal in any way, but his heart's desire was to be with his Lord. When you have a life as difficult as his, heaven is appealing. When we live for the world, death is a tragedy. When Christ is life, death is graduation into glory.

Father, I want to be like Paul. Help me more, ever day, to make my life about Christ so that death can be gain.

Think and Pray:

Is your life about Christ, or is Christ simply a part of it?