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BETWIXT TWO
THURSDAY, JULY 7
Philippians 1:21-26

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

 

“I will keep thy statutes:

O forsake me not utterly.”

 

BETWIXT TWO
 
Sometimes the difficulties and pressures of life seem almost too much to bear. Often the Christian sings out with the poet:
 
“There’s a longing in my heart for Jesus
There’s a longing in my heart to see His face,
I’m weary, oh so weary, of trav’ling here below
There’s a longing in my heart for Him.”
 
The Apostle expressed this feeling by saying, “to die is gain” (Phil 1:21), and “to be with Christ…is far better” (Phil 1:23). Paul certainly suffered far more for the Gospel of Christ than most of us ever will (1 Cor 4:11-13). Surely, we all agree it will be a glorious day when we are with the Lord and are like Him (1 John 3:2). Yes, the joys of heaven often call loudly as we find it necessary to face difficulties and sorrows. Yet we, like the Apostle, must recognise the need to live on for the Lord (Phil 1:24) on this earth.
 
The Lord has a purpose for the life of every Christian. Living in obedience enables us to bear spiritual fruit and fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. We must remember that we are the only witness the Lord has to a lost and dying world. There is much to be done as the time of salvation slowly draws to a close and the day of judgment nears. Besides a witness to the lost, the Apostle recognised that the struggling young churches needed him (Phil 1:25). We also are needed to encourage other believers both by our words and our lives (Acts 5:32). As troubles come our way, let us live on for the Lord, seeing our responsibility to the church as well as to those still lost in sin.
 
We, like the Apostle, may at times be very much betwixt these two choices. Yet the choice is not ours but God’s (Phil 1:22). And when the battle of life is over, He will finally call us home to eternal joy and rest (Phil 1:21).
 
THOUGHT: What was Paul’s dilemma?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for the blessed hope of the Second Coming of Christ.

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