OUR CHOICE

June 8

OUR CHOICE

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the

flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot

not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart,

and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide

in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence,

I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your

furtherance and joy of faith. — PHILIPPIANS 1:21-25

Paul is talking here about physical death. Of course, the real

Paul, the inner man, is not going to die. He’s going to go on

living either way: departing and being with Christ, or abiding in

the flesh.

Paul said he hadn’t decided yet. “I’m in a strait,” he said,

“between the two. I want to go on and be with Christ, which is

far better.” (If Paul had just said it would be better, that would

have been wonderful, but he said it’s even better than better!)

Then he said, “Yet I know to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” If Paul was present in the flesh, he could teach and

minister to these people. That was more needful for them.

Notice that Paul is making the choice. He didn’t say, “I’m

going to leave it up to God, and whatever God chooses, I will

accept.”

We have more to do with deciding to live or die than we have

thought!

Confession:

The real me is an eternal spirit being.