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

Paul felt the destiny of his life was to share the Gospel, even if it meant facing constant persecution and even death. 

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:22-24 NLT 

Thankfully Paul’s life was preserved until he accomplished everything Jesus wanted him to accomplish.

Satan is constantly trying to attack those who share the Gospel, just as he constantly tried to attack Jesus Himself. It started with Herod trying to kill Jesus as a baby to even His own church trying to throw Him off a cliff, as well as trying to stone Him to death. But there was no way Jesus or Paul could die until they accomplished their destiny for living. 

Photo by Danica Tanjutco on Unsplash

Likewise, even if our lives are cut short, we can be certain Jesus will not let that happen until He has accomplished His purpose for our lives. Here is a remarkable account of Ellen Harmon, a young girl, no more than eighteen years old. She is on a steamboat leaving Portland Maine that has just run into a very dangerous storm. While many were fearful for their lives, this young girl, when asked by an older woman why she was not afraid like everyone else, could answer with assurance:

“I told her I had made Christ my refuge, and if my work was done, I might as well lie in the bottom of the ocean as in any other place; but if my work was not done, all the waters of the ocean could not drown me. My trust was in God, that he would bring us safe to land if it was for his glory.” Ellen White, Life Sketches, p. 241

God did indeed have a work for Ellen to do. Ellen later married James White, an Adventist pioneer, and the rest is history. God also has a purpose for each of us. Our goal in this world should not necessarily be to live a long life, but to live a faithful life. As long as we have the assurance young Ellen had, that we are in God’s care and doing God’s work, the longevity of our life is not consequential, and we shall be prepared to walk away from this world either by death or the Second Coming at any time, satisfied we have accomplished our purpose and destiny as followers of Christ. 

Each has his own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish a certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each of us. Every act, however small, has its place in our life experience. – Ellen White, God’s Amazing Grace, Page 311

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/through-jesus-we-can-fulfill-our-destiny/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=through-jesus-we-can-fulfill-our-destiny

Daily Lesson for Monday 12th of January 2026

In case you have not noticed, we are all, as believers especially, involved in the great controversy, which rages all around us and, indeed, in us as well. We all, in one way or another, experience the reality of this cosmic struggle, and we will until the day we die, whenever or however that happens.

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

The most deadly spiritual weapons are ideas, good and bad. Satan uses criticism, betrayal, embarrassment, fear, peer pressure, and a host of similar tools that Christians should never employ. We are, instead, to use love, mercy, peace, gentleness, longsuffering, kindness, and self-control. Our most powerful weapon, judiciously used, is “the Word of God” wielded by the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17, AMP), because only God can bring the truth home to a person’s heart. We are merely the instrument that God uses to accomplish His purposes.

Because the battle is spiritual, we’re in a war of ideas and values. Yet, Christ has won the victory at the cross for us, and as long as we stay connected to Him, we can never be defeated, even if we are killed. Paul surrendered his life to whatever happened to him here on earth, however unjust, because he entrusted his life and his future to a higher court.

As Christians, we should not fight so much for our rights as for what is right. It’s not “might makes right,” but “right makes might.” Submission to God’s will is honorable; in fact, it is the only way to be victorious in the war in which we find ourselves. Jesus, of course, is the quintessential example of submission to the will of God, as Paul will bring out in Philippians 2:1-30.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-03-to-die-is-gain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-03-to-die-is-gain

The great lesson we learn from dear Paul this quarter is that we are to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus! – Hymn 618. This is a beautiful theme hymn to give us a great reminder of what we need in our world which is falling apart these days.

Paul is very much sounding like a wonderful father to all the people with whom he and his fellow workers have had contact and brought to Jesus: 
Hymn 101 – Children Of The Heavenly Father helps us understand just a little more. “The Sermon on the Mount (says Wednesday) paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be children of the Heavenly Father”. Paul pleads 
Father, Help Your People – Hymn 353.

“Our most powerful weapon, judiciously used, is ‘the Word of God’” says Monday’s study: 
Hymn 272 – Give Me The Bible and please 
Give Me Jesus – Hymn 305. This is where we will learn that 
Faith Is The Victory – Hymn 608 in Jesus conquering name.

Thursday brings to us a very brilliant reminder of being united in Christ, as does the second verse of 
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope. When we are united, we will the 
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378 with the wonderful power of God. This will then find us all 
Marching To Zion – Hymn 423 as we see “the devil is powerless to stop the onward march of God’s truth”.

All the above will happen just as Sister Ellen White says on Friday because 
I Know Whom I Have Believed – Hymn 511.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-life-and-deat-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3-life-and-deat-singing-with-inspiration

Key Thought: Although ready to die for Christ, Paul was confident of his long-term fate. The most important thing for him was to honor Christ and to preach the gospel to as many as possible…
January 17, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What is the basis of the spiritual war we wage, and what are our weapons?
3. Personal Application: In what ways are you experiencing the reality of the great controversy How can you draw comfort and strength knowing Christ has won the victory already? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How can God allow so much suffering, pain, and death in this world? If Jesus died on the cross to end all the results of sin, why is it still going on two years later? How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Philippians 1:23,24.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2.  What does Paul mean when he says that to depart and be with Christ is far better?
3. Personal Application: No one wants to die, but have you ever thought that the next thing you will know is the return of Christ? Does this help us understand Paul’s thinking in this passage? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How would you explain the Bible teaching on death to me, because I believe that Paul and other Christians are with Christ in heaven? ” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Philippians 1:27-30.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What do both Jesus and Paul say is indispensable for unity in the church?
3. Personal Application: How does our unity and striving together for the faith of the gospel relate to fearlessness? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What hope and comfort do Chriasrtians have when they are being persecuted, under duress and stress, and suffering? Should they have hope and comfort in these situations?.” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 4:14-16, I Thessalonians 2:10,11; Galatians 4:19.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What relationship did Paul have with the churches he established and the people he won for Christ?
3. Personal Application: Review how you live and how you treat people, especially those who don’t treat you well. What kind of witness for Jesus do you present? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-life-and-death-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3-life-and-death-teaching-plan