Sunday, May 22
Philippians 1:12-26

Toward the end of Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul confessed that he was “hard pressed,” conflicted by two competing desires. On the one hand, he wanted to depart this world and be with Jesus. It wasn’t because he wanted to merely escape the trials of this life, but because he had come to love Jesus so profoundly. He longed to be in the presence of his Lord.

On the other hand, he felt much affection and responsibility for those he had trained in Christ. He knew they would need him for the sake of their own “progress and joy in the faith.”

Paul. Unjustly incarcerated. In barbaric conditions. And what is he wrestling with? Love. His love for Jesus and his love for his young brothers and sisters in Christ.

May God transform our hearts in such a way that we also become more and more hard pressed between these two loves.