For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.
1:23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Paul now admits to being caged in, restricted, press together between these two option, that of living for the brethren and dying to be with Christ. Paul’s confession of his desire to be with Christ must surely have had a profound effect on his church in Philippi, for they knew of his love for them, and yet Christ was the priority, the lynchpin of Paul’s life, the very goal. This must have translated to the individuals of the tiny church he speaks to, for they must also focus on the Lord, as we in the modern church need to realize.
Paul’s desire is to depart (note that he doesn’t day die) and to be with Christ.
As the apostle often taught of resurrections, he must mean the departure from this existence, not necessarily from his body, for he surely expected a resurrected body to be granted to him. Resurrection day is approaching my friends.
Resurrection!
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