[I]t is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21
I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul. Today, I move to chapter six - Magnifying Christ through a Satisfying Death. Here, John Piper shares how a deeper study of Paul's letters - starting with Philippians - addressed an unresolved tension when he was younger. This unresolved tension afflicts all believers at some point - that we want to be happy, and at the same time we want to glorify God (with the latter being of course the reason why we exist). Piper saw these options as at odds with each other - if I pursued one it compromised the other. Piper then describes how, as he started seminary, a reading of Philippians 1:20-21 unlocked the secret which helped him resolve this tension - and this is what what led him to Christian Hedonism. This text by Paul reads that Christ is honored regardless of whether we live or die....because in death we gain. How we gain is then described in verses 22-23 where Paul shares how in death we then are unified with God in Heaven which is course incredible! Piper shares how Paul explains that "[d]eath gives him a closer experience of Christ.*" Piper then describes how this resolved the tension for him: "you cannot glorify God in your heart if your heart does not find God more satisfying than everything else.*" Additional scripture references provided include Philippians 3:8, Psalm 37:4, 32:11, and Philippians 3:1 where we are commanded to be glad and rejoice in the Lord. Piper wraps the devotion by pointing to Psalm 16:11.
*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me joy - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You give me joy, nor how You bless me in innumerable ways...thank You Jesus! Yet I am not deserving. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
