Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

You Win Either Way

This entry was posted on 06-15-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain...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" (Phil. 1:21,23-24 NIV).

People do all they can to put off death. Because they do not believe in a hereafter, they do not see death as gain. But Paul says to die is "gain" and that to depart is "far better." Why? How so? Read the "no mores" of Revelation 21:1-4 and 22:3 and you will understand. Right now we are "in Christ" but some day we will be "with Christ."

But either way, we win. If we are living for Christ now we can be assured that some day we will live with Christ forever. "To live is Christ." What does Paul mean? Let him explain this mystery. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20 NKJV). Your "life force" is Jesus Christ Himself who lives in you. The life you now live is by your firm faith and total trust in Him.

Praise: "I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!" (Louisa M. R. Stead)