Longing: February 28, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2014

LONGING

DEFINITION:

Prolonged earnest desire.

SCRIPTURE:

I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Philippians 1:23

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Paul is sharing with the Church at Philippi, in this verse, his struggle in his mind as to where he would rather be at that moment. He is relating that he has equal pressure that is being exerted from both sides. Here he is speaking of his personal desires and not necessarily that which the Lord would desire. He makes it clear that his personal will is to be swallowed up in the sweet and perfect will of God.

At the time he wrote Philippians Paul was in prison. It was not where he longed to be. Paul is longing to be with Christ but he knows that his mission on earth is not complete. The centerpiece of this entire dialog from Paul is Christ. In verse 21 Paul says simply and concisely, “For to me to live is Christ.” As long as the Lord had a purpose for him to live, even if it was in prison, he would accept that. 

There are many examples in life today where children and adults face longings in their lives. How many children have you heard about that go on their first overnight camping experience and in the middle of the night they had a longing for mother and father at home?

There were times in our lives before we were married living 2000 miles apart that we faced a longing to see one another.  We needed to look beyond that longing anxiously waiting the day we knew we would see one another again. It is normal to long to be with those that we love.

Paul looked at life differently than those who do not know God. For those who are apart from God life here on earth is all there is. Their passion in life is to gain worldly treasures such as money, fame, power, popularity, and pleasure. Paul’s passion in life was to become more like Christ and serve Him.

Paul spoke out boldly for Christ, suffered persecution, and imprisonment for it. Whether he lived or died Paul wanted to exalt Christ. Dying would be better for him because he would be removed from his earthly troubles and he would be with his Savior he loved. Yet for Paul to live meant he was to have fruitful labor. (Philippians 1:27). Paul’s fruitful labor was to bring people to Christ and build up the believers in their faith.

Many times we have talked to or heard about friends who were fighting sickness, economic struggles or strained relationships and they had a longing to call it quits and go to heaven and leave their troubles behind.

In times of suffering it is natural for us as believers to think longingly about being with Jesus, just as Paul did. As God’s children we know that this world will never truly be home to us. Paul loved serving Christ, as we should, but a part of him longed to be with the Savior as we do. It is comforting to know that being with Jesus in our eternal home will be far better than being here on earth.

We, as believers, can be confident that when we face those moments of longing to be free of life’s struggles we have strength that comes from our Lord. He will give us all we need to step up and live above our worldly longings. As Paul said, for him to live was Christ and was all he needed and longed for. This is what the Lord wants to be our reason for living. When we put our trust in Jesus, He will take our worldly longings away. What do you long for? Do you long to be with Jesus who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:3.

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:

Help me to live above any worldly longings that I face today. Thank You for the longing that I do have to spend an eternity with You. Until that day comes give me the strength daily to serve and love You with all my heart.