.....gain

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain Philippians 1:21

Paul’s words  are both profound and challenging. They reveal a life so fully surrendered to Christ that every breath has purpose, and even death holds no fear. To Paul, life was not about personal comfort, ambition, or survival—it was about Christ living through him.

Consider the story of a Christian nurse who worked long hours in a crowded hospital. Her job was demanding, the pay modest, and recognition rare. Yet she treated every patient with compassion, prayed silently as she worked, and spoke hope when fear filled the room. When asked why she remained so joyful under pressure, she simply said, “Jesus gave His life for me. Serving others is how I live for Him.” Her life reflected Paul’s testimony: Christ was not just part of her life—He was her life.

To live is Christ means that Jesus shapes our decisions, attitudes, and priorities. Our work becomes ministry. Our trials become testimonies. Our relationships become opportunities to reflect His character. And when Christ is truly our life, death is not a loss but a gain—because it brings us face to face at resurrection with the One we have loved and served.

“When Christ dwells in the heart, the soul will be so filled with His love, with the joy of communion with Him, that it will cleave to Him.”  Steps to Christ, page 77

We are called us to examine our own lives. Is Christ the center of our living, or merely a part of it? When we fully surrender, we discover that a life hidden in Christ is the only life that truly satisfies and the only one that truly matters..