THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S at least, that Christ was all of life to him, that Christ was the source of his life (cf. Gal. 2120, R. V.), that the whole purpose of his life was to glor ify Christ (v. 20), that he had no thought, ambition or joy outside of Christ, that to him Christ was all there was to life. While to Paul to live was Christ, and therefore glorious, “to die” was even more glorious, “to die is gain.”, Why? Because it was “to depart and be with Christ.” (v. 23.). That is the summit of the intelligent believer’s desire, “to be with Christ.” SUNDAY, September 3 1 . Philippians 1 :3 3 , 33. What the outcome would be Paul hardly knew. If it should be “to live in the flesh,” this would be “fruit of his work,” i. e., his remaining to work longer would be the fruit (or reward) of the work he had already done. And what he should choose, whether to live or to depart, he did not clearly know. The word translated “know” means rather to “recognize” or “see clearly.”. The working of Paul’s state ment shows that Paul thought that his living or his dying depended upon his own choice, for God would hear his voice and give him what he himself chose: and he had not yet made up his mind what he would choose. A little farther down he does see clearly what to choose (v. 25). Paul says, “I am in a strait betwixt the two,” i. e., “I am hemmed in on the one side by life and on the other side by death; there is so much that is desirable in each that it is difficult to choose the other.” Life had an immense blessing in it, the blessing of continued service; death also had an immense blessing in it, the blessing of being “with Christ.” What a glorious view of death this Christian view of it is! Paul goes on to say that his “desire” (the word means, strong desire, it is the word frequently trans lated “lust” ) was “to depart and be with Christ.” The word translated “depart” is the word used of the unmooring of a ship, and death is here regarded as an unmooring from this world (or, the breaking up camp) to go home to Christ, (cf. 2 Cor. 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:6). According to this view, the moment the spirit of the believer leaves the body it is “at home with the Lord” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:4, 6, 8 R. V.). But was not Paul with Christ during his earthly life? Yes, and Christ was with him (Matt. 28:20; John 14:21, 23); but in
815 no such fullness of reality and realiza tion as that which immediately suc ceeds what we call death. “To depart (thus) to be with Christ” “is very far better.” To live is good, it “is Christ” : but to die is very far better yet, it is more Christ.” MONDAY, September 3 3 . Philippians 1:3 4 -3 6 . While it would be “very far better” for Paul individually “to depart and be with Christ,” it was more needful for the sake of the saints in Philippi (and elsewhere) for him “to abide in the flesh” ; and, therfore, Paul now sees what he shall choose and what God will grant: he will choose their interest and not his own, he will choose “to abide in the flesh.” So he says “having this confidence (viz., that it is more need ful for your sake for ms, to remain) I know that I shall abide (in the flesh), yea, and abide wtih you all.” Paul’s assurance on this point was fulfilled: he did live and revisit Philippi (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3). On the other hand he did not revisit Ephesus, just as he told the elders from that city he would not (Acts 20:25), though he did touch at Miletus (2 Tim. 4:20). The purpose for which he would abide with them would be “for your progress and joy in the faith (i. e., the progress and joy that spring from faith, cf. 1 Pet. 1:8); (in order) that your glorying (a stronger word than rejoicing) may abound (another very strong word, and a word characteristic of Paul’s writ ings, and of Christian experience—-cf. John 10:10) in Christ Jesus in ' me through my presence with you again.” Their glorying would be in Paul because of his coming to be present with them, but it would be still more “in Christ Jesus,” because of their union with Him. Every Christian joy in its final analysis is “in Christ Jesus.” TUESDAY, September 33. Philippians' 1:3 7 . Paul has just spoken of his coming to be with them again. This leads him to urge them whether he comes to see their conductor or whether he is absent and only hears of it (cf. ch. 2:12) to “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” The gospel should govern the whole of our daily living. A “manner of life worthy of” a gospel so exalted as that of Christ must be a very exalted manner of life. Paul goes on to tell them that what he
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