Joyful Living Devotional - Day 12
Day 12 – Win or Win
Philippians 1:20-26(NLT) For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
Paul is in prison and awaiting trial. He doesn’t know how this will turn out, except that he has confidence in the Philippians’ prayers and in Jesus helping him. His bold declaration of not being ashamed went beyond mere confidence. It is rooted in the knowledge that his life is covered by God’s providence and his future is secured by God’s grace. To live means Jesus, to die means being with Jesus.
Jesus was everything to Paul, from his roadside conversion on the way to Damascus to his call as an Apostle to the Gentiles. When his life was in danger, such as in Corinth, it was his confidence in Christ that kept him there rather than going elsewhere. Acts 18:9-11 (NLT) One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Even now, as he writes this Epistle to the Philippians, his confidence is not shaken, his resolve not weakened, and his hope not abandoned. For Paul, staying alive means doing more fruitful work for Christ’s kingdom. This faithful man of God feels the pull of both staying and leaving. He knows that, because of Christ Jesus, he is in a win-win situation. This pull between staying and leaving is not like our trying to decide what we will have for dinner. The Revised Standard Version states it as follows, “I am hard pressed between the two.” The word Paul uses conveys being between two rocks, like a narrow passage with rock on both sides, where the only way to go is forward.
His desire is to go and be with Jesus; he knows that is the best outcome for us all. “I long to go…” he is saying I am ready to pull up the tent pegs and move on. He echoes what he wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NIV), “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.” Paul longs for his eternal house. However strong his desire to go and be with Jesus, he is fully submitted to God’s will for his life and knows that if he were to remain, it is better for the other believers, such as those in Philippi.
Paul’s desire is not to stay alive for himself but to encourage the faith of his fellow believers. He knows he is better off being with Jesus, but the Philippians are better off with him alive. Because of his confidence in Christ Jesus, he remarks that the Philippians will be able to take pride in the fact that Paul was spared, and that it will give them even greater confidence to pray and pursue the will of God for their lives despite the opposition they might be facing. Paul becomes an example to them of God’s continued hand of deliverance and providence. They will learn that with Christ you cannot lose.
Whether living or dying, the believer already has victory in both! Therefore, joy is not absent in life or even in death. Living means we have opportunities to work with others to build God’s kingdom and fulfill God’s call for our lives. There is no such thing as a believer without a call. We are all called to work in God’s vineyard. The joy is in bringing in the harvest and seeing lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The joy is knowing that each day is purposed by God and each moment is an opportunity to plunder hell and populate heaven. The joy is being fully alive with God’s purpose, no matter how young or old we are.
When the curtain is drawn on our lives and our time here is finished, even greater joy awaits us in the presence of our loving Lord Jesus! In life, we live for Him; in death, we go to Him. Yet Christ remains our reward. There is no greater reward than Jesus! Living means glorifying Christ, and dying means being with Christ forever. Regardless, we win! Knowing that we cannot lose frees us from the fear of death and the fear of an unfulfilled purpose.
In Christ you have already won. Hear these words from our Champion: “I’ve told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33(GWT) Our Champion has overcome the world, so our present is covered by His grace despite any circumstance. He also said: “I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:18(NLT) Our future is secured by His victory! Living or dying, we have already won through Christ our Lord!
In light of what Jesus has done for us, let’s pick up our cross with renewed zeal and run with purpose at every step. We will never be ashamed, and we will never regret following Christ! Living, we win! Dying, we win! Nothing to lose…
Prayer:
Philippians 1:20-26(NLT) For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
Paul is in prison and awaiting trial. He doesn’t know how this will turn out, except that he has confidence in the Philippians’ prayers and in Jesus helping him. His bold declaration of not being ashamed went beyond mere confidence. It is rooted in the knowledge that his life is covered by God’s providence and his future is secured by God’s grace. To live means Jesus, to die means being with Jesus.
Jesus was everything to Paul, from his roadside conversion on the way to Damascus to his call as an Apostle to the Gentiles. When his life was in danger, such as in Corinth, it was his confidence in Christ that kept him there rather than going elsewhere. Acts 18:9-11 (NLT) One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Even now, as he writes this Epistle to the Philippians, his confidence is not shaken, his resolve not weakened, and his hope not abandoned. For Paul, staying alive means doing more fruitful work for Christ’s kingdom. This faithful man of God feels the pull of both staying and leaving. He knows that, because of Christ Jesus, he is in a win-win situation. This pull between staying and leaving is not like our trying to decide what we will have for dinner. The Revised Standard Version states it as follows, “I am hard pressed between the two.” The word Paul uses conveys being between two rocks, like a narrow passage with rock on both sides, where the only way to go is forward.
His desire is to go and be with Jesus; he knows that is the best outcome for us all. “I long to go…” he is saying I am ready to pull up the tent pegs and move on. He echoes what he wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NIV), “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.” Paul longs for his eternal house. However strong his desire to go and be with Jesus, he is fully submitted to God’s will for his life and knows that if he were to remain, it is better for the other believers, such as those in Philippi.
Paul’s desire is not to stay alive for himself but to encourage the faith of his fellow believers. He knows he is better off being with Jesus, but the Philippians are better off with him alive. Because of his confidence in Christ Jesus, he remarks that the Philippians will be able to take pride in the fact that Paul was spared, and that it will give them even greater confidence to pray and pursue the will of God for their lives despite the opposition they might be facing. Paul becomes an example to them of God’s continued hand of deliverance and providence. They will learn that with Christ you cannot lose.
Whether living or dying, the believer already has victory in both! Therefore, joy is not absent in life or even in death. Living means we have opportunities to work with others to build God’s kingdom and fulfill God’s call for our lives. There is no such thing as a believer without a call. We are all called to work in God’s vineyard. The joy is in bringing in the harvest and seeing lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The joy is knowing that each day is purposed by God and each moment is an opportunity to plunder hell and populate heaven. The joy is being fully alive with God’s purpose, no matter how young or old we are.
When the curtain is drawn on our lives and our time here is finished, even greater joy awaits us in the presence of our loving Lord Jesus! In life, we live for Him; in death, we go to Him. Yet Christ remains our reward. There is no greater reward than Jesus! Living means glorifying Christ, and dying means being with Christ forever. Regardless, we win! Knowing that we cannot lose frees us from the fear of death and the fear of an unfulfilled purpose.
In Christ you have already won. Hear these words from our Champion: “I’ve told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33(GWT) Our Champion has overcome the world, so our present is covered by His grace despite any circumstance. He also said: “I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:18(NLT) Our future is secured by His victory! Living or dying, we have already won through Christ our Lord!
In light of what Jesus has done for us, let’s pick up our cross with renewed zeal and run with purpose at every step. We will never be ashamed, and we will never regret following Christ! Living, we win! Dying, we win! Nothing to lose…
Prayer:
- Take a moment to express your gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.
- Ask the Lord to remind you daily that both your present and your future are secured by His sacrifice on your behalf. Ask the Lord to remove any fear you may have of death.
- Pray for wisdom to make full use of the opportunities you have to proclaim Jesus.
- Re-commit yourself to fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. Simply pray: “Lord, Your will for my life. Nothing else, nothing less, and nothing more. I submit and surrender completely to what You want and desire. Not my will, but Yours! In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen!”
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional