Today we read from my favorite book of the Bible in our selection from the One Year Bible: Philippians. This little book is chock full of so many good verses, including my favorite verse in the whole Bible: Philippians 1:21.
Paul starts out telling us that God has begun His good work in our lives, and will be faithful to complete it until the day that Jesus returns. He's begun this good work in all of us. When you talk to someone about God, you're not introducing the idea for the first time. He's been working in their heart and mind already.... you just need to connect to what He's already doing, and fan the flame.
But the verse that really puts everything into perspective is my fav: 1:21. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. That tells us what is ultimately important. Living is all about Jesus. Becoming more like Him. Sharing His love with others. Finding His face in the faces we see on the street. Treating the least of these as though they were Him. That's what life is about.
And then dying is gain. We who follow Jesus shouldn't fear death. And like Paul says elsewhere in the NT, we shouldn't mourn like those who have no hope. Dying is gain. It means leaving the pains and cares of this world behind, and seeing Jesus face to face. What could be better than that?
God, thank You for putting it all in perspective.
No comments:
Post a Comment