Articles
Laying Down Our Lives for Christ
Would you continue working if you won the lottery? I’m pretty sure most people if not all, would jump at winning the lottery over working. Yet, the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:22-25, “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.” By being an obedient and loving servant to Christ, Paul had gained the opportunity to join Him in blissful peace for all eternity. Yet, he enjoyed glorifying Christ so much that he was torn between gaining his Heavenly reward and staying on Earth to help encourage his fellow brethren’s faith.
In Colossians 1:10 Paul wrote, “...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” One of the good works that Christians can do to bear good fruit is to encourage their fellow brethren through the joys and trials of life. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Each day of life we live is another day closer to when Jesus will come back and our Earth as we know it will be no more. The Godly encouragement and love we share with others strengthens us to be unified under Him.
1 John 3:16 tells us, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” When we give up our time and generosity are we not giving up some piece of our lives? Thus, there are many ways in which we can daily lay down our lives for each other with Godly love. Paul encourages us today when he wrote in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Let us each take a moment today to reflect on what we can do this next week to lay our lives down for Christ, our fellow brethren, and our neighbors. In our lives, do we feel as strongly as Paul about our work for Christ and about our brethren’s faith?
