Re:Verse passage – Philippians 1:20-26 (day seven)
Do you see the cause and effect in this statement? “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If living is for Christ, then death is gain. Francis Chan and Tony Merida in their commentary on Philippians showed this cause and effect in through fill in the blanks. To live is ______ and to die is _______. Christ is the only thing that could fill that blank for death to result in gain. If living is for fame, then death is disgrace. If living is for wealth, then death is poor. If living is for power, then death is weak. We could keep going down the list, and anything we fill in that first blank that is not Christ, can never get us to gain.
Christ gives us meaning. Christ gives us purpose. Christ makes life joyful. Christ is gain!
How do you fill in the blank?
Thank you so much for your insightful words, Rick! I have been meditating on your thoughts all day, beginning with Sunday School and all through Pastor Chris’s wonderful message. What a blessing and encouragement you have been to me today!
Great insight, Rick. Thanks for passing this along!