Calendar

TO LIVE IS CHRIST
LORD’S DAY, DECEMBER 13
Psalm 16:1-11

Philippians 1:21-30

 

In Christ, to die is gain.

 

TO LIVE IS CHRIST
 
The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so only after God the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and brought him to trust in the Saviour’s atoning blood, and to receive His new life. From that moment of the new birth, the man begins to live to Christ. This is the witness and experience of every true child of God. Is this your experience?
 
To the believer, Jesus is precious above all else: He is the Pearl of great price (Matt 13:46), the Chiefest among ten thousand (Song of Sol 5:10), the Lover of the soul, our Redeemer God. Our new life came from Him, belongs to Him, and must be lived to His glory: nothing else is worthy of His unspeakable love for us. The Apostle Paul was fully convinced of it and so should we: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).
 
Paul’s words mean more than most men think. They imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ - nay, his very life was Jesus! He is the life, the true God, and eternal life (John 14:6; 1 John 5:20). In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life! Jesus was his very breath, soul of his soul, heart of his heart, life of his life. This is the normal, fully converted Christian’s life.
 
Dear reader, can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? In your business or profession, are you doing it for Him? There are many who obey this principle in some measure. But God looks for those who would live wholly for Christ, like Paul. This alone is the full and true Christian life. Away with feeble, lukewarm, half-hearted “Christian living.”
 
THOUGHT: For whom have I been living?
PRAYER: Father, here I give myself to Thee, promising to live only in Thee, and to Thee. Make me ready and willing to go for Thee, even to die for Thee. All glory be unto Thee. Amen.

Search