If I say, as the Bible affirms, that “Jesus satisfies the longings of the soul” nearly every professing Christian would agree. Why then are there so many dissatisfied Christians? Is our claim not true? Or do we mean that He just satisfies under special circumstances? What’s the truth– does He or doesn’t He?
Of all the books in the Bible one of the most precious, interesting, and helpful to me is the little letter to the Philippians. Chapter by chapter, it tells us how we can have joy in spite of circumstances, people, things, and worry. Hardly a day ever goes by without me thinking of some verse in this great book. In the last chapter alone, Paul speaks of “Rejoicing in the Lord alway”(4:4); being “careful for nothing“(4:6); “the peace of God which passeth all understanding“(4:7); being content “in whatsoever state I am“(4:11); and being able to “do all things through Christ”(4:13). Is that not amazing? And it is all the more so when you consider his circumstances! He was in prison–hated, despised, forsaken, weary, and lonely. Yet through it all he could say these things.
How do you explain a man like that? Why does he succeed where we fail? What sets him apart from others? I believe the answer is found in Phil. 1:21 where he says, “for to me to live is Christ…”. No day goes by without me thinking of this statement. The import of it goes far beyond what most people imagine. Everything about Paul was Christ-centered, and that made the difference in everything! It will make a difference in your life as well.
If I could sum up my deepest desire, greatest aspiration, and most passionate pursuit it would be with these words–“For to me to live is Christ..”. As someone said, “This is a key verse in this epistle. In fact it should be a “key verse” in the life of every saint. This should be our watchword”. If “to live” is anything other than Christ you are living for the wrong thing. As an old song says, “He is my reason for living… He is my everything”
