Above the Circumstances

Two Divine Gifts

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Reading:

Do I rejoice at Christ being preached, no matter how He’s preached?

Am I depending on the prayers of others as well as the provision of God’s Spirit?

Have I made my body available to Christ, so by it He may magnify Himself?

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” — seriously? How so?

What am I willing to endure for the “furtherance and joy of faith” of others?

My life; the Gospel of Christ — how well does the former fit the latter?

What are others hearing of my standing in and relationships with my home congregation?

Believing on Christ and suffering for His sake — can I learn to see them both as gifts from God’s hand?

from Philippians 1:29

Reading:
Philippians 1:19-26

What does that mean?

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (21).

Wow, that’s a familiar verse!

The second part is clear enough, but what does that middle section mean?

“to live is Christ”

I know what…. I’ll see if my computer Bible has some helpful cross references….

Not many. But check these out:

“…Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death…” (Philippians 1:20).

“For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Philippians 2:21).

“When Christ, who is our life…” (Colossians 3:4).

I thought of these as well:

“He that hath the Son hath life…” (1 John 5:12).

“…I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by…” (Galatians 2:20).

So…what do you think?

from Philippians 1:21