April 23 2026

Thursday April 23

That Christ Will Be Magnified in My Body

Philippians 1:19-21

Today we are continuing to look at Philippians 1:19–21, where the Apostle Paul writes: “For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. According to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Here the Apostle Paul shares his heart in verse 20—that in nothing he would be ashamed, but that Christ would be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death. That is a powerful statement. You see, Paul’s greatest concern was not his comfort. It was not his reputation. It was not even his survival. His one great desire was that Christ might be magnified.

I read something that I felt I ought to share with you: “How does Christ need to be magnified? After all, how can a mere human being ever magnify the Son of God? The stars are much bigger than the telescope, yet the telescope magnifies them and brings them closer. The believer’s body is to be a telescope that brings Jesus Christ close to people. You see, to the average person, Christ is a distant figure in history who lived centuries ago. But as the unsaved watch the believer go through a crisis, they can see Jesus magnified and brought much closer through the life of a Christian with a single mind. Christ is with us here and now.”

“The telescope brings distant things closer, and the microscope makes tiny things look big. To the unbeliever, Jesus is not very big. Other people and other things are far more important in their lives. But as the unbeliever watches the Christian go through a crisis experience, they ought to be able to see how great Jesus Christ really is. The believer’s body becomes a lens that makes what seems like a small Christ to them appear very great—and brings what seems distant very near.” Oh my friend, how powerful that truth is.

This is what we see in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. When we go through a crisis as a believer, we are vessels that carry a great treasure—and that treasure is Jesus Christ. When we are knocked down, yet get back up… when we are persecuted, yet respond with grace… when we bless those who oppose us and pray, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”—and people are watching us—they begin to see something different. And they say, “Wow, how did you do that?”

That is why in 2 Corinthians 4 it speaks of Christ being made manifest in our mortal body. Paul’s one desire was to magnify Christ—to make Him large, visible, and exalted. He was saying, “I want my life, or even my death, to make Christ clearly seen.” This echoes what he wrote in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.”

And in 2 Corinthians 5:15: “That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Oh my friend, we should desire to be able to say with the Apostle Paul: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This was not just theology for Paul—this was his life motto. To live is Christ: Christ is his purpose. Christ is his message. Christ is his strength. Christ is his reason for living.

“And to die is gain.” Why? Because to depart and be with Christ is far better. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Paul is saying, “If I live, I serve Christ. If I die, I go to Christ. Either way, I win.” Oh, what a great message for us today.

Today, I trust that even as you face the crises of life, Christ will be magnified in you—so that those who do not know Him will see the real Christ living in you.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

P.S. I am having difficulties with posting the monthly Bible reading calendars on my website. Please email me for the month of May's calendar and indicate which plan you need. My email is: pastormike@pmiministries.org