Dear Friends
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Pam Reed, Registrar, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Philippians 1:21-30
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better, 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me.
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel 28 and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well, 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Devotional: Ready to Live or to Die
Do you fear death? A couple of months ago I travelled to visit my 91-year-old Aunt, whom I hadn’t seen for some time. As we talked, she said, “I’m not afraid to die. I know where I’m going.” After a lifetime of serving God, she is ready, like Paul, “to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (23).
I’ve also recently read a book by Alexis Bilindabagabo, an Anglican bishop in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. For months, he and his wife and young children faced death daily while hearing of family and friends being massacred. But in facing death Alexis lost his fear: “I remember praying and saying, ‘Lord, I’m ready. I’m prepared.’ And with that came victory – victory over fear and victory over death…” He meditated frequently on our passage from Philippians. Bishop Alexis survived and has gone on to work for restoration and reconciliation in his country. (from Rescued by Angels: The story of miracles during the Rwandan genocide, Sydney: Acorn Press, 2001.)
Paul, the writer of Philippians, was conflicted. Like Alexis, he did not fear death, but he knew that there was much he could still do to teach and to encourage others in their faith. So, his desire to be with God was tempered by his desire to see people grow in Christ.
Paul reminds believers that there is no need to fear death, but that life should be more than “marking time.” We should not just exist until death, but rather we should live in a manner worthy of the gospel (27). God does not want conversion to be the end of the process. Our Wesleyan theology emphasises being transformed as we live our lives: being sanctified to become more and more conformed to the image of God.
Prayer
Our God, our desire is to be at rest in you. But we know that you have not finished with us yet. Help us to live our lives in ways that show your love to everyone around us. And help us not to tire of being transformed into your likeness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Pam Reed (Registrar and Student Support Tutor)