Philippians 1:2

Philippians 1:2

 

There is something nice about having things distilled down to just a few words. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, is trying to encourage the Philippians not to be discouraged by his imprisonment and that some are preaching Christ with unrighteous motives. He understands their concern but wants them to maintain focus in the midst of the challenges they are facing.

 

This desire leads Paul to summarizing Christian life in one phrase. In Philippians 1:2, Paul says: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” God’s desire is that we would have an all encompassing, all consuming desire to know Christ and serve Him fully here. And if we are to die, the joy of meeting the one who we have cultivated this relationship with would be the one we would first meet face to face.

 

Oh that I could join in Paul’s heart desire to know Christ so well and live; in word and deed, in such a way that Christ is made know to the whole world.

 

Posted by John Shapiro, Minister to Young Adults