SCRIPTURE
Philippians 1:18b-26 (NRSV)
Paul rejoices though imprisoned
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
DEVOTION
Recently I’ve been meditating on all of the difficult circumstances that God has brought me through.
It put me in the mind of the song “I Won’t Complain” by Rev. Paul Jones. In his lyrics he writes, “I've had some good days. I've had some hills to climb. I've had some weary days and some sleepless nights. But when I look around and I think things over--all of my good days outweigh my bad days, I won't complain.”
Although this song was penned a long time after Paul’s death, Paul must have been singing a similar refrain as he languished in prison on account of his faith. Rather than complaining, Paul boldly declared, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.”
That’s a bold statement, isn’t it?
Although most of us are not facing trials or tribulations that are unto death, there are many times that we do feel hard pressed by life. I don’t know about you, but there have been some nights where tears have drenched my pillow and pain and grief have threatened to overwhelm me.
It is at times like these that we must remember that Paul said, “I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.”
Hallelujah!
No matter what we are going through, we know that our God is mighty to save and a great deliverer.
In this season of Advent, we are daily reminded of this great Truth, for God saved us from the biggest, baddest, bully of all--SIN.
By allowing Love to give Jesus one Christmas morn, events were put into motion that led to the greatest salvation story of all time.
This story, summed up in a nutshell is, “Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!”
Because Jesus died on the cross, we are saved from our sin and gifted with eternal life. And because we have experienced this salvation, we look forward to the second coming of Christ and the establishment of a new heaven and earth!
Advent is a season of waiting, hoping, expecting, and repenting as Christians remember the first coming of Jesus on Christmas morn in a manger and look forward to the second coming of Jesus from the clouds and in great glory!
No matter what we are going through, when we have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we know how all of our stories will end.
And s/he lived happily ever after…The End.
Now, ain’ta that good news?!
Please pray with me:
Holy God, even in this Advent season when there is great joy all around me, I have to admit that I am worried about so many things. Today, I turn all of my fear and anxiety over to you. I know that you are mighty to save and that you proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt when you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life, then resurrected him on the third day in glory. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit of CHRISTmas infect my very soul so that I will be compelled to share your good news with everyone I meet! I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!
I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"
Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!
Showing posts with label to live is christ to die is gain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to live is christ to die is gain. Show all posts
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN!
SCRIPTURE
Acts 21:1-16 (NRSV)
Paul is warned about future persecution
When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, "The Lord's will be done."
After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
DEVOTIONAL
Today’s scripture reading is very solemn. It details the prophecy that was shared with Paul in Caesarea regarding his death. In short, a prophet named Agabus told Paul that he would be bound and murdered in Jerusalem.
I can’t even imagine how Paul must have felt upon hearing this proclamation. I am sure that he really had to examine his motivations for loving God, following Jesus, and serving humanity. I would think that he did some soul searching and came to some profound conclusions.
He must have decided, “to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).” Or perhaps he thought, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” Or maybe he heard tell of Jesus saying, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it (Luke 9:23-24).”
Whatever GOOD NEWS Word Spirit burned into his heart and soul, it must have been a powerful one because Paul said to his friends, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Wow! It is clear from Paul’s statement that he truly prioritized his love relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If a man has not found something to die for, then he is not fit to live.”
As Christians we are called to be GOOD NEWS witnesses, no matter what the cost! In some times and in some places—even in the present day—that commitment to Jesus Christ may cost us our very lives!
But there is still GOOD NEWS my friends! God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!
Isn’t it wonderful that no matter what may befall us here on the Earth, we are promised eternal relationship, salvation and home in the life to come?
Because we have such outstanding “life insurance” we ought not to be afraid to take real risks to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet!
It is an honor to surrender my all to Jesus, because he surrendered His all for me...
Have you found something/someone worth dying for? I have. His name is JESUS!
Loving God, thank you for the many martyrs who have died because of their love affair with you! Thank you that although they lost their lives here on the Earth, they did not lose their life in the Heavens. Please help me to passionately pursue relationship with you every single day of my life! Truly I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for I know that it is the power unto salvation for all who believe it (Romans 1:16)! This is GOOD NEWS and I am committed to sharing it with others! I love you and I want others to love you too! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.
EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!
Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.
From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
Acts 21:1-16 (NRSV)
Paul is warned about future persecution
When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, "The Lord's will be done."
After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
DEVOTIONAL
Today’s scripture reading is very solemn. It details the prophecy that was shared with Paul in Caesarea regarding his death. In short, a prophet named Agabus told Paul that he would be bound and murdered in Jerusalem.
I can’t even imagine how Paul must have felt upon hearing this proclamation. I am sure that he really had to examine his motivations for loving God, following Jesus, and serving humanity. I would think that he did some soul searching and came to some profound conclusions.
He must have decided, “to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).” Or perhaps he thought, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” Or maybe he heard tell of Jesus saying, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it (Luke 9:23-24).”
Whatever GOOD NEWS Word Spirit burned into his heart and soul, it must have been a powerful one because Paul said to his friends, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Wow! It is clear from Paul’s statement that he truly prioritized his love relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If a man has not found something to die for, then he is not fit to live.”
As Christians we are called to be GOOD NEWS witnesses, no matter what the cost! In some times and in some places—even in the present day—that commitment to Jesus Christ may cost us our very lives!
But there is still GOOD NEWS my friends! God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!
Isn’t it wonderful that no matter what may befall us here on the Earth, we are promised eternal relationship, salvation and home in the life to come?
Because we have such outstanding “life insurance” we ought not to be afraid to take real risks to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet!
It is an honor to surrender my all to Jesus, because he surrendered His all for me...
Have you found something/someone worth dying for? I have. His name is JESUS!
Loving God, thank you for the many martyrs who have died because of their love affair with you! Thank you that although they lost their lives here on the Earth, they did not lose their life in the Heavens. Please help me to passionately pursue relationship with you every single day of my life! Truly I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for I know that it is the power unto salvation for all who believe it (Romans 1:16)! This is GOOD NEWS and I am committed to sharing it with others! I love you and I want others to love you too! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.
EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!
Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.
From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
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