Philippians 1:19-25 NIV
...For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 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. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith....
"For your progress and joy in the faith"
That would apparently be Paul's immediate answer, his knee-jerk response, if you asked him, "why do you want to go on living?" Yesterday's post intimated that Paul's existence was just a skosh lacking in the "creature comforts" department.
Astounding.
Father I define life too much by its comforts and assign far too much purpose to life on pursuits of fleeting consequence and selfish ambition. Please keep reshaping me into that person whose chief aim in life is the faith--the progressing, joy-filled faith-- of those with whose company you have enriched my life. In Jesus. Amen.
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