Living for Christ
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
The apostle Paul wrote Philippians 1:21 so that the Philippian church would understand that even during persecution, they could remain firm in their faith. Fortunately for me, as well as most American believers, we have never faced suffering in our entire lives. That doesn’t dispel the meaning of this verse. However, it does mean that we need to repurpose it in light of our privileged lifestyles.
In my retirement years, I have found that there is no lack of activity. My life, in many ways, is busier now than when I was working. I don’t have a job, but I do have plenty of opportunities to fill my time with activities such as golf, card games, gardening, working out, hiking, traveling, singing, writing, eating out, and simply relaxing. But my heroes are those who live for Christ even when no one expects much from them. I know retired preachers who will fill pulpit time for vacationing pastors and even volunteer to clean up after church events. Others will speak at retreats and consult with churches that need to make changes. It is their way of living for Christ in retirement.
As a layperson, I don’t possess the spiritual gift of preaching. But I must answer the question of how I will live for Christ in other areas of my life? Let me provide you with some examples from my own experiences.
A friend, Craig, was on his deathbed with terminal cancer. I visited him the day before he passed away to encourage him. Instead, he ministered to me with his spirit-filled attitude, even praying for me before I left. It brought me to tears. “For Craig to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
I was privileged to visit a friend, Lou, in hospice care. Only two people were allowed to see him, and he requested that I be one of them. During our time, I asked if I could pray for him, and he valued it. I’m not sure about his salvation, but he heard my prayer, which combined the gospel and the love of Christ for him. “For me to share is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Before the waitress was able to leave after dropping off our meals, my friend, Rick, asked her if she had a need that we could pray for before we gave thanks for our meal. I was surprised, but she did and explained a stressful situation in her home as a single mom with her son. My friend prayed for her son before he prayed for the meal. “For Rick, before he eats, is Christ, and death is gain.”
A seminary professor parked his car, not knowing that a woman was also waiting to take that spot. After he got out of the car, she let him have it, cursing and screaming at him. He waited until she calmed down, apologized for the situation, and offered to move his car. Sensing something else was going on, he asked if she was having a bad day. She proceeded to tell him about her bad day and an equally bad week. He offered to help. “To apologize is Christ-like and to die is gain.”
A single adult moved into our neighborhood but kept to herself for several months. Finally, my wife brought her a plate of homemade scones, which opened an extended conversation. It so happened that her husband had passed away recently and left the finances in a mess. She was sorting it out and was very thankful for someone to talk to. My wife invited her to their local women's Bible study, and she was delighted by the invitation. “For Darian to listen is Christ and die in gain.”
We were on the tee box of the sixth hole when one of the players was sent a text message that a friend of ours had a heart attack. It was quite a shock, since he had the appearance of good health. Before we teed off, we stopped, made a circle, and prayed for him and his wife. “For us, to pray is Christ and to die is gain.”
I lost my job unexpectedly and without a reason. It shook me to my very core. I was young, emotionally wounded, and feeling lost. The vice president of another division from the same company heard about the unfair treatment and offered me a job. I didn’t let him down and succeeded beyond expectations. I was deeply grateful for the concern from a Christian leader when no one would have cared. “For me, in a lost job, is Christ, and to die is gain.”
A drunk driver killed a local pastor’s son and was sent to prison for manslaughter. It took some time, but the pastor forgave him. The Lord put it on his heart to visit him in prison. “To forgive is Christ and to die is gain.”
Bob was saved from alcoholism. Every day, he is a testimony to me and all who know him with his sobriety. He is a walking example of Christ's deliverance. “For Bob to be sober is Christ and to die is gain.”
We have so many opportunities to live for Christ. Every day, I fail to see most of them because I am more interested in my own prearranged schedule. I fail due to inactivity and inattentiveness.
Living for Christ is challenging because no one expects it. If we do nothing, no one will say anything. If we stay to ourselves, our lives will be less complicated. But if we ask the Lord to help us care, he can change our hearts and open our eyes to the opportunities to witness for him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to live each moment for you. Please open my eyes to your opportunities and give me wisdom to have the Holy Spirit work through me in my actions and words.
Questions
Is there a way for you to show the love of Christ through an action that no one would expect?
In my retirement years, I have found that there is no lack of activity. My life, in many ways, is busier now than when I was working. I don’t have a job, but I do have plenty of opportunities to fill my time with activities such as golf, card games, gardening, working out, hiking, traveling, singing, writing, eating out, and simply relaxing. But my heroes are those who live for Christ even when no one expects much from them. I know retired preachers who will fill pulpit time for vacationing pastors and even volunteer to clean up after church events. Others will speak at retreats and consult with churches that need to make changes. It is their way of living for Christ in retirement.
As a layperson, I don’t possess the spiritual gift of preaching. But I must answer the question of how I will live for Christ in other areas of my life? Let me provide you with some examples from my own experiences.
A friend, Craig, was on his deathbed with terminal cancer. I visited him the day before he passed away to encourage him. Instead, he ministered to me with his spirit-filled attitude, even praying for me before I left. It brought me to tears. “For Craig to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
I was privileged to visit a friend, Lou, in hospice care. Only two people were allowed to see him, and he requested that I be one of them. During our time, I asked if I could pray for him, and he valued it. I’m not sure about his salvation, but he heard my prayer, which combined the gospel and the love of Christ for him. “For me to share is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Before the waitress was able to leave after dropping off our meals, my friend, Rick, asked her if she had a need that we could pray for before we gave thanks for our meal. I was surprised, but she did and explained a stressful situation in her home as a single mom with her son. My friend prayed for her son before he prayed for the meal. “For Rick, before he eats, is Christ, and death is gain.”
A seminary professor parked his car, not knowing that a woman was also waiting to take that spot. After he got out of the car, she let him have it, cursing and screaming at him. He waited until she calmed down, apologized for the situation, and offered to move his car. Sensing something else was going on, he asked if she was having a bad day. She proceeded to tell him about her bad day and an equally bad week. He offered to help. “To apologize is Christ-like and to die is gain.”
A single adult moved into our neighborhood but kept to herself for several months. Finally, my wife brought her a plate of homemade scones, which opened an extended conversation. It so happened that her husband had passed away recently and left the finances in a mess. She was sorting it out and was very thankful for someone to talk to. My wife invited her to their local women's Bible study, and she was delighted by the invitation. “For Darian to listen is Christ and die in gain.”
We were on the tee box of the sixth hole when one of the players was sent a text message that a friend of ours had a heart attack. It was quite a shock, since he had the appearance of good health. Before we teed off, we stopped, made a circle, and prayed for him and his wife. “For us, to pray is Christ and to die is gain.”
I lost my job unexpectedly and without a reason. It shook me to my very core. I was young, emotionally wounded, and feeling lost. The vice president of another division from the same company heard about the unfair treatment and offered me a job. I didn’t let him down and succeeded beyond expectations. I was deeply grateful for the concern from a Christian leader when no one would have cared. “For me, in a lost job, is Christ, and to die is gain.”
A drunk driver killed a local pastor’s son and was sent to prison for manslaughter. It took some time, but the pastor forgave him. The Lord put it on his heart to visit him in prison. “To forgive is Christ and to die is gain.”
Bob was saved from alcoholism. Every day, he is a testimony to me and all who know him with his sobriety. He is a walking example of Christ's deliverance. “For Bob to be sober is Christ and to die is gain.”
We have so many opportunities to live for Christ. Every day, I fail to see most of them because I am more interested in my own prearranged schedule. I fail due to inactivity and inattentiveness.
Living for Christ is challenging because no one expects it. If we do nothing, no one will say anything. If we stay to ourselves, our lives will be less complicated. But if we ask the Lord to help us care, he can change our hearts and open our eyes to the opportunities to witness for him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to live each moment for you. Please open my eyes to your opportunities and give me wisdom to have the Holy Spirit work through me in my actions and words.
Questions
Is there a way for you to show the love of Christ through an action that no one would expect?
Posted in Devotionals
Categories
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Standing Firm in the Face of Spiritual Warfare: Insights from Ephesians 6My Words from God’s WordBubble Wrapped LifeTough Questions, Difficult AnswersThe Book of Acts: A Continuing Story of Jesus' MinistryThe Rebirth PortalA Simple Faith; A Complicated LifeHope Rekindled: The Kingdom's Spiritual Power and Global Reach
February
Living StonesLeadership in the Kingdom: Following Jesus Through His Chosen OnesPersistent PrayerThe Great Repair: How God is Mending Our Broken WorldDarkness-Light, Evil-Good, Sin-ForgivenessTrading Up: Finding True Satisfaction in ChristWealth and the Kingdom of GodThe Reluctant Prophet: Lessons from Jonah's Journey
March
April
May
June
The Radical Inclusivity of God's LoveThe Unexpected Power of Prayer: Lessons from Acts 12The Journey Comes Home: Cultivating a Culture of EvangelismSight and InsightThe Extraordinary Church: Lessons from AntiochCan the West Be Won for Christ?The Gospel: Subversive and Submissive“Alles gut.” It’s Okay.