Are you a glass half full or glass half empty kind of person? I’m a, “Who drank half of my Diet Dr. Pepper?” kind of person. When it comes to my own personal life, I can be a little pessimistic. It blows my mind to think that Paul had such a positive outlook on life. I’m a little envious of people who can see the good in bad situations.
The man was in jail. Not because he knocked over a liquor store, but because he was preaching the Gospel! If anyone besides Jesus had a reason to complain because of unfair persecution, it was Paul. Yet here he is seeing the good that God can bring through his life even in horrible circumstances. People are causing him trouble and he praises God that no matter their motives, they are preaching Christ. He knows that he may be facing death for offering people real life and he can’t make up his mind how he wants to be delivered. Through his 20/20 kingdom-eyed vision, he sees that living is deliverance and dying is deliverance. He sees everything clearly. If he lives, he knows there is more work that he can do for Christ. If he dies, he gets his ultimate grand prize! I would be choosing life and wanting an all-expenses paid, six week vacation in the Mediterannean.
I’ve heard it said that, “We often spend more time praying saints out of Heaven than we do praying sinners out of Hell.” Ouch! How can we be so naive to not recognize that we talk about wanting to go to heaven but we just don’t want to go today? That seems a little hypocritical doesn’t it? I think in my case and maybe yours, we think that if we go to heaven a little too soon, there won’t be anyone around to tie up our loose ends. Ummmm, God? The creator of the universe, sustainer of all life, the author and FINISHER of our faith is still here! He can handle the situations better than we ever could. Maybe there is another little lesson in there. Don’t leave so many loose ends. (Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.) We are told to make the most of every chance. That way when our time is done we don’t have so many loose ends. Tell who you need to about Jesus. Love those who need loving. Forgive those who need forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness from whom you need it.
It all boils down to the jewel in the crown of chapter 1. “For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Make it your life’s ambition to live that kind of life. That is living on the edge. Being so sold out to Jesus that if you keep on keeping on, you can make Jesus more famous. If you die, ‘Winner, Winner, chicken dinner!’ So, what is standing in your way to having that attitude? Ask God to make it clear to you and then smash that idol. Live your life on Go! I get to Go tell others or I get to Go home! Oh yeah, I almost forgot, who drank my Diet Dr. Pepper?
Read Philippians 1:12-26
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