Living for Christ: The Blessing of Sacrifice and Love

Philippians 1:21

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)

The Apostle Paul, who wrote this week’s passage, spent his entire life, after his conversion, teaching the way of Christ. He taught aim, mindset, attitude, and behavior that reflect the call of Christ when He says to walk in the light. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To live Christ is our calling. 

To live Christ is to live in a self-sacrificial way to love others. We are commanded to do nothing out of selfish ambition but to prioritize the needs of others above our own (Philippians 2:3). To the world, this seems crazy. It is the way of the cross where we give up our lives to serve others, to do for them what is best for them to find Christ. Like Christ, this is not always popular. People do not always appreciate the truth, even if spoken in love, and those we are attempting to help will turn on us just as Judas turned on Jesus. Because the way of the cross can put us in the crosshairs of so many, the world considers this to be pure foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). However, as difficult as this life may be at times, it is also the life that creates the most abundantly blessed life.

Living in Christ is to do the right thing according to Scripture. The right things are defined in the context of loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This life teaches us to love better. As we learn to love better, we will find some people will hate or abandon us, while others will become very good friends that last a lifetime. Those who do not want to hear the truth or follow the way will fade out of our lives, while those who want to love better will stay. The way of the cross will cause us to be surrounded more and more by people who truly care and love us.

God will continue to call us to those who are hurting and need someone to love them well. Some of those we minister to will be changed by the power of God’s love, while others will only take advantage of our kindness, or they will walk away. As we love those who take advantage of us, they will eventually be changed for the better or abandon us as well. In the end, the way of the cross, to live Christ, is the best life to keep those who will hurt and influence us negatively at a distance, while also giving us the best friends we could ever have. To live Christ is worth the sacrifice. 

Prayer: I pray, Lord, that I do not forget Your way is the best way, especially in those times of sacrifice when those who reject You also reject me. Hold me near and surround me with great friends. Amen.