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“Lord Is Valiantly Emancipating! (L.I.V.E)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
“For to me, to LIVE is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Observations: 
I asked myself what two things do I learn about Paul from here?
1. To LIVE is Christ
2. To die is gain

I asked myself the significance of Paul's response to the Philippians?
I found Paul’s response to be very positive because whatever way he looked at it, he was optimistic that it would turn out for good. It is that much more meaningful when I recalled that Paul wrote these words while chained in prison. Yet, his outlook looked positive. Today I decided to focus on Point 2:

Interpretation:
I asked myself what could 'to die is gain' mean?
What came to my mind was that dying for Paul meant being with Christ in Heaven. That was exciting for Paul. It shows when Paul emphasized 'to die is gain', he was not afraid of dying for believing in Jesus Christ as His Master. As a slave to Christ, He was willing to die for the Master.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my life in these two points. The purpose of today's devotional in my life was to show me that to die for Christ is a gain in the Kingdom of God.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING D.I.E:

I have learned that the more I hold on to myself, the more I give into the ways of the world.  Jesus revealed to me how the ways of the world are so enticing and pull me like a magnet that I give in because I let negative thought processes affect my emotions which then move me to negative action. It is because instead of  being a slave to Christ and die for Him, I become a slave to sin. There is no gain to die in sin.  It is so easy to spiritually die even when I am alive if I continue to give in to the things of the world to the point that the ways of God become desensitized. I am so thankful to Jesus when I do wrong, my conscience bothers me so much afterwards. For me that is the Spirit of the Living God convicting me to see that I chose the wrong path. But it is also the Spirit of the Living God restoring me fully by the Blood of the Lamb, so I am not stuck in my sinful ways. I see spiritually dying is no gain but to die to self living for Christ has the ultimate gain. This is what Paul understood and strived for. This is what Jesus Christ wants me to strive for to, to understand 'to die is gain' when it involves my focus on Jesus Christ. I need the Holy Spirit's help for I falter so many times.

I am so thankful to Jesus that the words that Jesus spoke to the adulterous woman came to me when I have gone my own way and done my own things: "Has no one condemned you, neither do I, GO AND SIN NO MORE!"

Wow! I know when I live for Christ, it will become a reality and 'to die is gain' because I would have died living for Christ when that time comes. I thank the Lord for that opportunity. None of us know when we will die, so when I die, I want my last act to be an act where I am living for Christ. For that to happen, I need the Lord's help to live for Christ 24-7, so in death too, I can be with Christ forever and have a new glorious body! Praise the Lord!

I ask you now dear friend, why die for Christ?
When we die for Christ, we can have the gain that Paul was confident of. If life were just the kind of existentialism that Frederick Nietzche believed in without an after-life, Paul would not have mentioned it to be gain. This is something that Frederick Nietzche never understood. His philosophy was based on ‘God is dead’ rather than ‘God is living’. Paul was a philosopher in his own way and he understood more about life and death and the benefits of dying when people have Christ as their Master. That is why he could boldly state, ‘To die is gain’.

Knowing God is living, we can have that gain too when we have Christ in our lives. Christ is living and when we die we can be with Him eternally forever.  He wants to be our Savior who saves us, atones for our sins, visits us when we have been victimized, inspires us, openly offers ownership, and receives those redeemed readily.

But, for 'to die is gain' to become a reality in our lives, 'to live is Christ' must also become a reality. We cannot have one without the other. Living for Christ and with Christ in this fallen world is what makes you and I ready for that gain. It starts with Christ and not giving into the temptations and allures of this world that will trap us. Satan will make everything look so appealing just as Satan lured Adam & Eve to sin by eating the forbidden fruit. When we rationalize or put ourselves in a position that will cause us to sin, we are actually giving into sin already. Once rationalization begins, it begins with the flesh and rarely ever with the Spirit of the Living God, so naturally our tendency is to give in unless Christ is so part of our lives that we don't do any action without Christ's signature. That is what you and I need to aim for so we can attain gain by dying for Christ.

What a privilege you and I can have to daily die for Christ by living for Christ!

After what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary, is this too much to ask?

I hope not! I pray everyday we can live our lives being prepared to die for Christ. Help me Lord Jesus! We need the Holy Spirit's help so when we die in our bodies, we can still be alive in Christ as we would have lived our lives for Him in this world. Then, even in death we will have gain, because we will be with our loving Master! Praise the Lord!

May you and I die to ourselves that we may gain Christ even now as we live! We can be assured of that because Jesus Christ already paid the ultimate sacrifice for us by ransoming us with His precious blood, coming back to life on the third day to save! Praise the Lord!

May you experience the meaning of life through Christ and understand gain of dying in Christ!

"Deliverer Is Emancipator!"/"Why D.I.E for Christ?"

Savior!
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Savior saves sinners
Allowing atonement always
Valiantly visiting victimized
Immanuel imparts inspiration
Openly offering ownership
Receiving redeemed readily!

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you for being our Savior and saving us sinners. You Oh Lord became the atonement for us sinners now and forever. We thank you for valiantly visiting humanity that has been victimized by the infection of sin. We thank you for being our Immanuel who has imparted your inspiration in our lives through your Word and openly offering us ownership into your Kingdom receiving the redeemed readily. We thank you that we are redeemed because of the price you paid for us on the cross and our submission to you as we lay all our sins at the cross and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for your forgiveness of our sins and coming back to life to save us as we acknowledge what you have done for us and believe in our heart that you were raised from the dead and as we confess that you are Lord. Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me about dying for myself in this body otherwise I can die spiritually and that's the worst sort of death. I don't want to die spiritually but will without your help in my life. Thanks for saving me and restoring me. Thank you for helping me live my life for you as I depend on you. I need you Jesus. Help me Lord to remember always to 'Die for Christ is gain' that I can be an example in word and deed. In life and death, I pray that you will be the center of our lives so both outcomes can be a gain than a loss as your servant and apostle Paul saw it. Help us to be the fisherman you want us to be by imitating your healthy lifestyle and expecting your mission to be answered through your servants now as we preach and proclaim the Gospel in word and deed through you our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. We pray this in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turniLOVINGg them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2011 DEVOTIONALS:

Philippians 1:21: "Why L.I.V.E your life to be appreciated by others?" (July 01, 2011, 10:35 a.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:20: "Where do you need to have C.O.U.R.A.G.E in life?" (June 17, 2011, 3:59 p.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:19: "Who do you often C.A.L.L in life?" (June 16, 2011, 6:54 p.m. (IST)) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:19: "What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" (June 15, 11, 6:24 p.m.( IST) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:15-18: "How are your M.O.T.I.V.E.S in life?" (June 08, 11, 6:45 a.m.( IST) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:12-14: "What have the C.H.A.I.N.S done to you in your own life?" (June 02, 11, 7:41 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:12: "How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?" (June 01, 11, 9:26 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response be based on?" (May 31, 11, 9:01 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:24: "Why should M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day not be limited to a Picnic/BBQ Holiday?" (May 30, 11, 7:47 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:8: "Why cannot you be in a loving R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P in life?" (May 28, 11, 12:34 aPm.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:7: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" (May 27, 11, 9:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?" (May 26, 11, 1:03 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" (May 25, 11, 10:15 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" (May 24, 11, 10:50 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1-2: "What do you do to B.L.E.S.S others in life?" (May 20, 11, 9:18 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" (May 19, 11, 10:42 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of being a sinner?" (May 18, 11, 8:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life? (May 17, 11, 7:21 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 2:8: "Why bother with the C.R.O.S.S. when you are living in the 21st century?" (April 23, 11, 1:32 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

2010 DEVOTIONALS:

John 12: "Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?" (Mon, March 29, 10, 10:09 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:3: "What costly S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E will you make for Jesus remembering His stinky/dirty feet?" (Sat, March 27, 10, 11:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Proverbs 23: "What  has  A.L.C.O.H.O.L done to you in life?" (March 20, 10, 9:17 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" (March 13, 10, 11:40 p.m.)

Mark 10:13: "Why S.H.A.R.E Jesus with others in life?" (March 09, 10, 4:59 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13: "Why B.R.I.N.G Doggy Poo to Jesus?" (March 08, 10, 9:01 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?" (Feb 24, 10, 9:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

1 Corinthians 13: "How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 Mark 9: "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy