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Paul is in prison in Rome

27th April

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

The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4, 6 & 7

Why do we live?

Does the one who quotes today's verses live in a palace, does he have advantages of life, is he surrounded by love of his fellowmen? No, the apostle Paul is a prisoner of the Romans. What is the secret of his inner calmness and strength?

It is neither a religion which he would have chosen nor moral rules which he would respect; it is a person whom he loves. This is his inner resource among his sufferings: "For to me, to live is Christ". In the eyes of his contemporaries his life might be a failure, it doesn't matter to him: he found in Jesus Christ the answer to the needs of his conscience and heart.

This experience is not only reserved for apostles. Every believer can experience this. To realize this experience we need to live for Christ and in his company. His company not only helps us to support the circumstances we go through - which would crash us down - but it also helps us to live a life which pleases our Master. This concerns the young people in their studies or in the contacts with their class mates as well as the adults in their problems of daily life.

If we don't experience this in this life we will not do it in the other life either because life will be finished. It is on earth and among the favourable or constrained circumstances where we have the possibility to show that we love the Lord Jesus.

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