A WIN-WIN SITUATION! 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”      Philippians 1:21

Let’s face it – in human terms the Apostle Paul did not seem to have much of a future when he wrote these often-quoted words to the church at Philippi! Paul was in prison and the vicious Roman emperor, Nero, was torturing and murdering Christians simply for his own warped amusement.

Paul had two clear options: What would he do with his life if he lived or if he died? In this verse Paul answers that question for himself. His response is amazingly positive considering the dire straits in which he found himself  – “for to me, to live is Christ” 

“To me” shows that this is Paul’s personal testimony. He was not speaking for anyone else. He was saying, “I will give you my definition of what life and death means to me.” Living for Christ was his ambition. As long as Paul continued to live, he would live for the purpose of glorifying Christ. If he died, he would rejoice with the saints in Glory and be forever with the Lord.

It is also true that the force that produces a spiritual life is Christ Himself— “When Christ who is our life” (Colossians 3:4). The Christian life is Christ moving into believers, entering them so that His life is lived through them. This is far more than imitating Jesus. That would be too difficult with a sinful heart.

“Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). He is more willing to live His life  through us than we are willing to allow Him. “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10). We need to think of our body as an exhibit to demonstrate Jesus.

For Paul, the Christian life was not a hobby; it was his very life. This is what should be normal Christian living. With most of us, our Christian life sometimes takes second place to other things. It is time we put Christ at the centre of our lives and we can only do that by reading God’s Word, prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit and encouraging one another – whatever trials and tribulations we face.

 

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    Speakers for Sunday Services in May: 

     6th:         a.m.   Pastor Peter Cho

                                    p.m.   Rev  Dr  Suzanne Roberts 

 13th:           a.m.   Pastor Peter Cho

                              p.m.   Mr Geoff Champion

20th:         (Pentecost Sunday)

          Rev Simeon Baker

   (a.m. & p.m.) 

27th:            a.m.   Mr David Palmer

                   p.m.   Mr John Palmer