To Live Is Christ
Today was my birthday! Today was also the day Tyler started cutting some new teeth so it was difficult and celebratory at the same time. Difficult because Tyler was so miserable and even when I gave him some infant Tylenol he was still fussier and grumpier than we’ve ever seen him. But amidst all that, today was celebratory because I have so much to be grateful for in this life. We had a nice dinner tonight with some friends and family over and my sister Alicia made me an amazing cake and we had a rousing few rounds of Catch Phrase. It’s been a great day! Click here for small album of pictures from tonight.
Last week I started reading Philippians. I’m going slow, taking only a few verses a day and really trying to get deep into them. I write them out in my notebook and look up words and a commentary or two about that days verses. This morning I was on chapter 1 verses 19-21. Paul is writing this letter in prison and he is explaining to them that no matter what happens it will work out for his deliverance because Christ will be exalted in his body whether it is living or dead. Then I reached the very familiar verse, 21, and stopped.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I read it five or six times. What in the world does that mean?! Reading it so many times made it sound not even grammatically correct because how could life be a person–? I thought it might make more sense with more words like “For me to live is to glorify Christ.” Or “For me to live is to proclaim Christ.”
But after studying it for some time I started to get it. Today we try to act like we have this busy life and Christ is an added bonus, or one of our many priorities. We try to act like being a Christian is about a religion not a relationship of following a Person. But for Paul, life was summed up in the person of Christ. The person of Christ had so changed Paul that He was his reason to live or die.
I like how Bobby always calls me out as thinking of Paul as the “Super Apostle.” He was just a man that God used and I need to be obedient in the same ways that Paul was. Is Christ why I do what I do? Is He my thoughts and my desire? So often I am working on spiritual characteristics, studying my Bible or listening to sermons, I don’t want to miss the point that this is all about Him. I definitely need to remember daily that my life needs to be all about Christ because He is my Redeemer and my Lord. He made me alive, not so I could live for myself or this world, but to know Him, to live like He did and be transformed into His image.
November 20th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for sharing this. I needed this reminder today.
November 20th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Happy Birthday, Christa! You share a birthday with my husband, Ryan. We were celebrating last night too! I love your point here. My life is Christ. My reason is Christ. My hope is Christ. My everything is Christ. What a super reminder you give us.
As far as the teething goes–sorry! I truly empathize with you. I can only recommend frozen peas or green beans. Carter loved to gnaw on frozen vegetables.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Happy Birthday my sweet friend! It is so great the way God has surrounded you with such a delightful family and so many who love you. You are a wonderful friend and I praise God for our growing friendship.
My focus lately has been on growing in the fear of the Lord, so to hear this from you is so refreshing. The fact that my life IS CHRIST, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father, is an awe-inspiring privilege!
November 21st, 2007 at 12:20 am
Happy birthday. I really don’t know you but my wife does (Brooke). I hope that you have a great week.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:37 am
I just stopped by for the first time and really enjoyed looking through your blog. Are you NANC certified? Looked like you attended one of their conferences last year. I was looking through some of your book reviews too. Have you read “Christian Psychology’s War on God’s Word” by Jim Owen? I highly recommend it. Our tiny little church of about 150 people in the middle of the Adirondack Mts. is in the process of opening a Ministry Center for people in crisis (of any kind) who want to receive biblical counsel. A group of our people are in the process of becomming NANC certified. I would like to at some point (I have 3 boys and homeschool). We are doing a great book for our women’s bible study that you might enjoy as well called “Self-Confrontation” by John Broger. Sorry to ramble on, I just love finding blogs of like-minded people! Happy Birthday!
November 26th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Happy, happy birthday!
You are so right in your characterization that so often Jesus is an added bonus, or one in the midst of many priorities, a helpful add-on as I remember reading in a book by Piper. May He instead be my life and my breath so that even if death comes it will be GAIN!