Philippians - Week 1 - Day 1

READ 

Philippians 1:22-24 

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. 

After writing that he wanted to honor Christ by life or by death, Paul comments further. He saw the value of continuing to live. He could do more work for the Lord if he stayed but then was torn between living or dying. Note that he did not consider death as going to the grave; it would be going to be with Christ, which he knew “would be far better.” For the sake of the Philippian believers, however, he thought it would better for him to continue to live. 

REFLECT  

As a believer, what is your perspective about death whenever that occurs? When you lose a loved one who believed in Jesus, you can think of that person as being with Jesus not in the grave. Philippians - Week 3 - Day 

RESPOND 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 to see other comments Paul makes about going to be with Jesus. Note that for the believer to be away from the body is to be present with the Lord.