-August 18, 2020-
Good morning happy Tuesday,
-To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain-
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
(Philippians 1:21).
The Apostle Paul was a great servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the moment he was saved on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-19, he was fully committed to Christ as an apostle, preacher, teacher, evangelist, and missionary. He wrote 13 of the 27 books of the NT.
The Lord Jesus Christ told Ananias who helped him after his conversion, “…Go for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15). All of things came to pass exactly as the Lord said.
Paul lived completely for the Lord and died the same way. He tells us, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In this passage in Philippians 1:21-24, he describes how hard pressed he was to depart and be with Christ which is far better for him or to stay and be a blessing to all the believers and to win souls to Christ.
Of course, none of us, including Paul have the choice. The time of our stay on this earth is in the Lord’s hands; however He will not take us home to heaven until our mission on earth is completed. We will either all be taken at the Rapture or our death will come before His coming. This is why we serve the Lord so willingly and faithfully until He calls us home.
These words should be our life’s mission: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” He is why we get up in the morning, He is our reason for living, and He is the One we live for and serve. We want to do His will and be a blessing. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Jim Elliott, one of the three young missionaries to Peru who were martyred for their faith, said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
We should also remember that the Lord caught up Paul to the third heaven, where God dwells and showed him amazing and wonderful things that he was not permitted to tell anyone about. No wonder he says in today’s verse, “to die is gain.” He knew firsthand that heaven was not just better but “far better.” I want to go there so badly, just as we all do. It will be so worth the wait when we finally reach heaven’s pearly gate.”
May we live by the same words that Paul lived by, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” At the end of Paul’s life he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Have a blessed day living for Christ and serving Him with all your heart. Stay safe and healthy.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 