I
have been trying to find the right words to adequately convey my
thoughts on the recent news about another suicide here within the
Christian community.
And for some reason, even a week later, I am still without them.
Because if I am being honest, and if the truth be told, there are no “right words.”
But almost “accidentally” I would find some encouragement in the pages of scripture this morning.
Philippians 1.
Imprisoned Paul gives a glimpse into his personal struggle.
Verses 21-25 say this, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.”
I would read about a Christian pastor, dad, husband, influencer, who took his life one week ago today and my heart would break.
Over and over and over again this past week I would reflect upon his decision to prematurely depart from this world… and his calling… and my heart would break.
Because I kept thinking of this one thing… “His work wasn’t finished yet.”
And this morning my heart is fixed on Paul.
He’d be honest with his feelings.
“To depart would be better. But to remain was more needful.”
And hasn’t that been my own heart’s cry at times?
I’ve caught myself saying it during my own seasons of pain and discomfort: “I’m ready to go.”
But I wonder if we can be brave enough to say, “I’m ready to go, but I am willing to wait.”
Paul said it.
“I’m torn between two desires.”
“But for your sakes, it is better than I continue to live.”
Oh the wrestling with two desires.
Be with Jesus now.
Be with those Jesus loves now.
His remaining was not to be without reason.
“I will remain alive SO I CAN CONTINUE TO HELP ALL OF YOU GROW AND EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF YOUR FAITH.”
Ahh, yes.
The very reason I am alive!
To grow and experience Jesus and take others with me!
To remain means this: “to continue; to be left after others have withdrawn; not to be lost; not to escape.”
And while my heart desperately breaks for those who withdrew too soon, I am challenged by what remains of the higher call for those of us left behind.
I want to remain.
I want you to remain.
Because if we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, then we have been entrusted with His resurrection power to be bold and brave this side of eternity. My instructions… your instructions… are to remain, to stay, to persist, to prevail, to cling, to outlast, to outlive, to tarry long, to keep going, to make camp.
The world needs you.
And I owe the world an encounter with the living, breathing, life-changing Jesus!
Your work is not over.
Check this out!
“To depart” was what Paul was wrestling with.
He longed to depart and be with Jesus.
The Greek word for depart is “analusai” which is a military word. It’s a word used when a decision was made that it was time for an army to break camp, pack up their tents, pick up their gear, gather their belongings, and move onward to new territory.
Ahh.. look at that again.
New territory.
Am I ready to go into the new territory God is calling me into? Because like Paul, part of my ministry remains unfinished.
I cannot withdraw prematurely.
If I do the entirety of my calling and the vision of it will not be fulfilled.
There’s kingdom work left to do!
Philippians 3:14 says this, “I press toward the mark for the prize…”
“Press forward” is the Greek word, “epekteinomai” and it means a foot racer. The image here is of a racer who is pressing forward so hard and is stretched out so much that his entire body is arching forward as his arms reach ahead to grasp the goal before him.
Oh that this would be way we insist on finishing the work God has intended for us.
Paul, wrongfully accused and residing in prison makes a decision to remain.
Rather than slowing down, resting, taking it easy, or quitting altogether, he chose the higher calling of Jesus. He chose to put forth all of his efforts and push even harder than ever before so that he could finish well - knowing he'd given his best to the very end of his life.
All for Jesus.
Oh that we would REMAIN for Him.
For those He’s entrusted us to minister to.
Because your work isn’t over.
My task: bring heaven to earth.
I have been entrusted and empowered with the higher call.
To remain.
The world needs me.
The world needs you.
Remain.
And for some reason, even a week later, I am still without them.
Because if I am being honest, and if the truth be told, there are no “right words.”
But almost “accidentally” I would find some encouragement in the pages of scripture this morning.
Philippians 1.
Imprisoned Paul gives a glimpse into his personal struggle.
Verses 21-25 say this, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.”
I would read about a Christian pastor, dad, husband, influencer, who took his life one week ago today and my heart would break.
Over and over and over again this past week I would reflect upon his decision to prematurely depart from this world… and his calling… and my heart would break.
Because I kept thinking of this one thing… “His work wasn’t finished yet.”
And this morning my heart is fixed on Paul.
He’d be honest with his feelings.
“To depart would be better. But to remain was more needful.”
And hasn’t that been my own heart’s cry at times?
I’ve caught myself saying it during my own seasons of pain and discomfort: “I’m ready to go.”
But I wonder if we can be brave enough to say, “I’m ready to go, but I am willing to wait.”
Paul said it.
“I’m torn between two desires.”
“But for your sakes, it is better than I continue to live.”
Oh the wrestling with two desires.
Be with Jesus now.
Be with those Jesus loves now.
His remaining was not to be without reason.
“I will remain alive SO I CAN CONTINUE TO HELP ALL OF YOU GROW AND EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF YOUR FAITH.”
Ahh, yes.
The very reason I am alive!
To grow and experience Jesus and take others with me!
To remain means this: “to continue; to be left after others have withdrawn; not to be lost; not to escape.”
And while my heart desperately breaks for those who withdrew too soon, I am challenged by what remains of the higher call for those of us left behind.
I want to remain.
I want you to remain.
Because if we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, then we have been entrusted with His resurrection power to be bold and brave this side of eternity. My instructions… your instructions… are to remain, to stay, to persist, to prevail, to cling, to outlast, to outlive, to tarry long, to keep going, to make camp.
The world needs you.
And I owe the world an encounter with the living, breathing, life-changing Jesus!
Your work is not over.
Check this out!
“To depart” was what Paul was wrestling with.
He longed to depart and be with Jesus.
The Greek word for depart is “analusai” which is a military word. It’s a word used when a decision was made that it was time for an army to break camp, pack up their tents, pick up their gear, gather their belongings, and move onward to new territory.
Ahh.. look at that again.
New territory.
Am I ready to go into the new territory God is calling me into? Because like Paul, part of my ministry remains unfinished.
I cannot withdraw prematurely.
If I do the entirety of my calling and the vision of it will not be fulfilled.
There’s kingdom work left to do!
Philippians 3:14 says this, “I press toward the mark for the prize…”
“Press forward” is the Greek word, “epekteinomai” and it means a foot racer. The image here is of a racer who is pressing forward so hard and is stretched out so much that his entire body is arching forward as his arms reach ahead to grasp the goal before him.
Oh that this would be way we insist on finishing the work God has intended for us.
Paul, wrongfully accused and residing in prison makes a decision to remain.
Rather than slowing down, resting, taking it easy, or quitting altogether, he chose the higher calling of Jesus. He chose to put forth all of his efforts and push even harder than ever before so that he could finish well - knowing he'd given his best to the very end of his life.
All for Jesus.
Oh that we would REMAIN for Him.
For those He’s entrusted us to minister to.
Because your work isn’t over.
My task: bring heaven to earth.
I have been entrusted and empowered with the higher call.
To remain.
The world needs me.
The world needs you.
Remain.
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