Verse 1:22–23

If I continue to live in the flesh it will mean fruitful work for me. But which one to choose perplexes me. My desire is to go and be with Jesus, for that is far better.

Here he makes what we were just discussing last week even more clear, at least as far as Paul’s desires are concerned. We need to remember this when we get so frantic about all that we are doing.

If you do not have these questions, I question whether you’re a believer. Life on Earth in our present state is certainly not nearly as good as it will be when I get to be with Him back home. In fact, life here is often a pain, plus it is surrounded by sin, pain, conflict, attacks, and all the rest. Of course, there are glorious moments here on earth in the flesh. But they are few and far between unless you are a whole more mature in the Lord than I am.

It’s better to go home.

What happens if you do? Mainly, I’m stuck with the fruit I allowed to be developed through me before I left. I don’t know about you, but I would hope my life were a little more fruitful, please. I’m hoping for a position of responsibility in Heaven. I suspect I need to have learned something about that while here in the flesh.

Verse 1:24–26

Yet to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you—convinced of this, I am certain I will remain here and continue with you, so that you will have ample cause to rejoice in me when I join you again.

This sounds almost arrogant. My assumption is that the Lord gave him a rhema (a personal specific revelation) about it. [Of course, it might just be a bit of arrogance. We have never been told that Paul was sin-free.]

Verse 1:27

Regardless, let your manner of life be worthy of the kingdom, so that whether I come and see or I hear in absence, I may know that you stand in one spirit, side-by-side, fighting for the Gospel,

Here he shows us that it remains a faith walk for him—just like it is for us. He really doesn’t know if he’ll survive the internment or not. We never do. I don’t even know if I’ll be given the opportunity to finish this posting. Remember James 4:15—

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

My life is in His hands—and that’s where I want it.

Related articles

• All that matters is Jesus, in this life Phil 1:7-20 (radiqx.com)