For me to live is?

For me to live is Christ

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Philippians 1.21

I know a lot of folks are ‘anti-Easter’ or ‘anti-Resurrection Sunday’ or anti anything special about today. But I like it because at least once a year I am drawn to what I should be drawn to at least every Sunday, but probably every day – the glorious resurrection of our Saviour. I am not bothered by the fact that we take a Sunday for that to be our focus.

Saying that I do hate all the junk that goes with a modern church Easter. Churches have Easter Egg hunts and Easter bunnies and bouncy castles and festivals and such. People use this day to dress up in their finery with brand new spring outfits bought for the occasion – then go to church so everyone can see them and talk about their nice clothes (good application of James 2 isn’t it?) and everyone who can’t afford new outfits for their kids feels embarrassed for their kids. Everybody opens their Easter baskets and gets stuffed on sweets and candy and after the cursory visit to church has a big Easter dinner. Seems like we are not too far from the celebrations of Ishtar. No wonder there are anti-Easter believers.

But this is a perfect verse to ‘coincidently’ show up on this Resurrection Sunday! 'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.'

'For me to live is Christ.' What does that mean?

'For me to live is Christ' runs totally contrary to the popular notion that 'for me to live is me!' It says 'my life is all about Christ.' instead of 'life is all about me.' 'For me to live is Christ' means that all I strive to do is for Him and that there is no hope in me apart from Him. It means He is in control and He is the focus.

Let's buck the trend and make sure that this Resurrection Sunday is centred on 'for me to live is Christ' and not on 'look at me.'

I love the old Christian song that goes with this verse:

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

to hold His hand and walk His narrow way

there is no peace, no joy, no thrill, Like walking in His will

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

Now once my heart was full of sin and shame

Till someone told me Jesus came to save

When He said "Come home to me"

He set my poor heart free

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

Now there are things that I still do not know

But of this one thing I'm completely sure

He who called me on that day

Washed all my sin away

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain