To Live is Christ
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Living for Christ
Living for Christ
This passage and I have a history. Two times in my life after praying God brought this scripture to mind. Once when I was on my way to Iraq, and again when I was praying for my mother before she went home to be with the LORD.
The first time God brought it to mind was an encouraging reminder that despite heading to a war zone God still has work for me to do. The second, God was letting me know it was time for Mom to go home and be present with the LORD.
Today we sit at the intersection of both ends of this passage. Monday afternoon our sister in Christ, and dear friend went home to be with the LORD.
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Sitting at this intersection I can tell from my brief encounter with Arlene that living to her meant living for Christ. Dying to her meant to be present with the LORD.
Think of today like sitting at a traffic light at an intersection. At the intersection of Living for Christ Ave. and Living with Christ Way. Pause to reflect on the example Arlene has left us. While loss of a loved one remains difficult, find comfort that Arlene is present with the LORD.
As the light changes from red to green, how can we follow Arlene’s example and live for Christ? As we travel Living for Christ Ave. God has work for us to do.
Living for Christ Ave.
Living for Christ Ave.
Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from prison. From Paul’s words we can see that he is at an intersection of his own. The confines of his prison is his traffic light.
Despite sitting in prison for the sake of the Gospel Paul opens his letter extending grace and peace. At this difficult cross road, as with ours, grace and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ is there. Even here at the cross road the work of the LORD goes on.
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Paul is contemplating his life in prison. Philippians 1:20-24
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 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.
These verses show us that Paul, much like us today, is at an intersection in life. From the traffic light of prison Paul writes not your typical oh woe is me prison letters. He writes letters encouraging many churches.
This passage today reminds me of my encounter with Arlene. When I went to visit with her in the nursing home, I expected to be the encourager. Upon walking in and introducing myself, I found that I was the one being encouraged. Perhaps the encouragement was mutual.
Upon walking in it was evident to me that despite her situation Arlene put the words of Philippians 4:4-6 into practice.
I went expecting to find someone discouraged at their situation. Perhaps feeling down and in need of encouragement. That is not who I found.
Arlene’s joyful, Christ centered persona was an encouragement to me and I’m sure everybody else she came in contact with. Arlene at this intersection of life, lived full speed ahead on Living for Christ Ave.
She embodied for me and all of us what it means when Paul says “For me to live is Christ and die is gain.” How is it that Arlene could display such joy even in a nursing home? Because she knew she was in a win win situation.
To live meant more work for Christ in and through her. To die meant to go be with Christ.
While we mourn the loss of a friend, a mother, a sister, wife we know in her passing she is with Christ. As we reflect on her life at this intersection, lets follow her example.
Live as Citizens of Heaven
Live as Citizens of Heaven
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Brothers and sisters Arlene lived before us as a citizen of heaven. For those of us who remain God has work for us to do. No matter our situation the work of the LORD goes on.
6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
As the light at this intersection changes from red to green, lets follow Arlene’s example live full speed ahead for Christ, until Christ returns or calls us home.