<\/p>\n
\u201c. . . as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death\u201d (Philippians 1:20).<\/p>\n
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN AN EVENT IS BOTH A GAIN FOR GOD\u2019S KINGDOM AND A LOSS FOR US PERSONALLY, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT RUN. Progress never comes except at a price, and it must occasionally be true that we have to bear a part of the price personally. At such times, we should be glad the event represents a gain for God\u2019s cause and His kingdom, in the larger perspective.<\/p>\n
John the Baptist is a study in the attitude we need to have. As Jesus\u2019 forerunner, John\u2019s role was only temporary. Once Jesus appeared, the progress of the kingdom would require John to leave the stage, so to speak. To his credit, John had the right attitude: \u201cHe must increase, but I must decrease\u201d (John 3:30). If the kingdom was going forward, God would be glad, and so John would be glad too, no matter what the private implications were.<\/p>\n
Our highest joy should always come from God\u2019s purposes and their fulfillment. We should define as \u201cgood\u201d anything that forwards the Lord\u2019s cause, without regard to any gain or loss of a private nature. Yes, we will have our preferences, as Paul must have had when he wondered whether he would continue to live or be put to death. But deep down, Paul only wanted that \u201cChrist will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.\u201d If a gain for God\u2019s kingdom required a loss for Paul, he was only too glad to accept the loss. On a much higher plane than Nathan Hale ever knew, Paul would regret that he had but one life to give.<\/p>\n
Having this attitude does not mean we don\u2019t grieve what we\u2019re called upon to give up. Jesus willingly \u2014 we could even say gladly \u2014 gave up His life to make possible some things that would bring His Father joy, but if you think His loss did not bring Him grief, you have never read the account of Gethsemane. A willing sacrifice and a broken heart very often go together, and if you haven\u2019t learned that lesson yet, you probably will before you die.<\/p>\n
It all comes down to looking at things from the larger perspective. Things that make us sad in the \u201csmall picture\u201d are very often those that, in the \u201cbig picture,\u201d should make us the gladdest of all.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude\u201d (Denis Waitley).<\/p>\n
Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n