Philippians 1:20-21
It is always difficult to think of what your favorite of a certain thing might be. There are just so many choices and sometimes it depends on the season. My favorite song or movie has changed over the years. However, I think Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith will always be in contention for my favorite movie.
What is your favorite verse? It may be different depending on the season you are going through. My favorite couple of verses have always been Philippians 1:20-21.
"20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Paul has always been one of my favorite people in the Bible, aside from Jesus of course. Paul was a guy whose life was completely transformed when he encountered Jesus. He went from putting his trust in his own works, accomplishments, and privileges, and even persecuting the early church to radically changing and following Christ with an intensity that no one can compare to. You can tell that Paul was all about Jesus.
In these verses, Paul is eagerly awaiting to be with Jesus. He will not be ashamed but knows that no matter what, Christ will be exalted with his life. Even if following Christ brings him to his death, it will be to exalt Christ. What faith and passion we see here from Paul! Paul then goes on to say that for him, to live is Christ. If he is alive, he wants Christ to be living through him. He wants his life to solely be about Christ and pointing others to Him. There is no longer any other way to live for Paul, it is all about Jesus!
Paul then goes on to say that to die is gain. What a radical statement. Even if following Christ brings him to death, it is gain and not a loss. It is gain because he gets to spend an eternity with Jesus in heaven! With a mindset like this, there is nothing that can stop Paul from living for Jesus and spreading the gospel. Everything else is left behind in a relentless pursuit of Jesus that ultimately leads to an eternity spent with Him. We see that Paul was greatly opposed for following Jesus. He was mocked, beaten, thrown in prison, etc. All in an attempt to stop him. However, Paul never stopped exalting Christ with his life and knew if it ended in death, it was still gain because of heaven. He also knew that no matter what, Christ would be proclaimed even in his death.
I have always loved Paul and his pursuit of Jesus. I find myself greatly challenged to have this same mindset among myself. I want my life to solely be about Christ. I want everything that I am to point to Jesus. I want to have the mindset that even if it cost me my life, I would still have this same mindset.
It is always difficult to think of what your favorite of a certain thing might be. There are just so many choices and sometimes it depends on the season. My favorite song or movie has changed over the years. However, I think Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith will always be in contention for my favorite movie.
What is your favorite verse? It may be different depending on the season you are going through. My favorite couple of verses have always been Philippians 1:20-21.
"20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Paul has always been one of my favorite people in the Bible, aside from Jesus of course. Paul was a guy whose life was completely transformed when he encountered Jesus. He went from putting his trust in his own works, accomplishments, and privileges, and even persecuting the early church to radically changing and following Christ with an intensity that no one can compare to. You can tell that Paul was all about Jesus.
In these verses, Paul is eagerly awaiting to be with Jesus. He will not be ashamed but knows that no matter what, Christ will be exalted with his life. Even if following Christ brings him to his death, it will be to exalt Christ. What faith and passion we see here from Paul! Paul then goes on to say that for him, to live is Christ. If he is alive, he wants Christ to be living through him. He wants his life to solely be about Christ and pointing others to Him. There is no longer any other way to live for Paul, it is all about Jesus!
Paul then goes on to say that to die is gain. What a radical statement. Even if following Christ brings him to death, it is gain and not a loss. It is gain because he gets to spend an eternity with Jesus in heaven! With a mindset like this, there is nothing that can stop Paul from living for Jesus and spreading the gospel. Everything else is left behind in a relentless pursuit of Jesus that ultimately leads to an eternity spent with Him. We see that Paul was greatly opposed for following Jesus. He was mocked, beaten, thrown in prison, etc. All in an attempt to stop him. However, Paul never stopped exalting Christ with his life and knew if it ended in death, it was still gain because of heaven. He also knew that no matter what, Christ would be proclaimed even in his death.
I have always loved Paul and his pursuit of Jesus. I find myself greatly challenged to have this same mindset among myself. I want my life to solely be about Christ. I want everything that I am to point to Jesus. I want to have the mindset that even if it cost me my life, I would still have this same mindset.
Posted in Devotional