To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain

September 12

Isaiah 11-13

Psalm 104:1-9

Proverbs 22:17-21

Philippians 1:21-30

To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:21-24

God knows the number of our days. He has plans for each of us and his plans continue as long as we are here. He can use us to bring glory to Him until our last breath. His purpose is different for us in different seasons, but we can be effective for Him in every season. Whether you are young and starting out in your career, chasing young children, and building a family, or middle-aged dealing with a business, teenaged children, and aging parents. You may be retired and dealing with health issues, adult children, and grandchildren, or nearing the end of your life spending your days in a nursing home with serious health problems. God still has plans for you. He can use you every day. Until He takes you home, you have a purpose.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 I know we looked at this verse yesterday, but it bears repeating. Our lives are a testimony to Him. We can give glory to Him all the days of our lives and He can use us in mighty ways at every stage of life. It is never out of our own ability or strength that we can do anything for Him, but rather our availability allows Him to accomplish much through us. When I was in college, I worked summers at a nursing home. There was a dear sweet lady there who spent her days praying. She was in very poor health; her eyesight was very limited, and she was bound to a wheelchair. She couldn’t do much of anything, but she could pray and so she did. Any time you went in her room, you would find her in prayer. She had visitors all during the week because people came by to share their prayer requests with her so she could pray for them. Her pastor brought all the church’s prayer needs to her each week and the residents and staff at the home came to her room often whenever they had a prayer need. Looking at her life, you might think she didn’t have much purpose. But you would be wrong. She had a ministry until the day Jesus called her home. As a young stay-at-home mom, you might feel like you are not accomplishing much because you spend your days changing diapers, playing blocks, and rocking babies to sleep. God is at work in and through you. Our job is to remain faithful and available. His job is to accomplish His purposes. So, for me to live is Christ and someday when I have accomplished everything He intends for me to do, it will be for my gain that I depart and go to be with Christ.