Author: Dr. Greg Savage

I am the senior pastor at First Southern Baptist Church in Salina, KS. I have been married to Heidi for over 35 years. She is a teacher at Starbase, Salina. Our oldest son, Brennan, is married to Kaitlyn; they have two wonderful daughters, Kennady and Blair. Our middle son, Austin, is married to Kellyn. They live in Denton, TX, and are a part of the school system. Our daughter, Hannah, is married to Regent. They live in Davenport, IA, and have a young son, Silas. Our three grandchildren bring Heidi and me great joy. All my kids are Kansas State graduates, as are Kaitlyn and Regent. Kellyn is a Baylor grad, but we don't hold that against her. I am also a Denver Bronco fan, a horrible golfer, an avid reader, and a huge Wildcat fan. I am a graduate of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a DMin in Church Revitalization. More than anything, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. The thoughts expressed are my own. You can also look me up on Goodreads.

To live is Christ and to die is gain

              In our morning devotions, Heidi and I are starting to study the book of Philippians. This morning, we read chapters one and two and discussed a few observations. In these first couple of chapters, Heidi noticed a beautiful tension and a dichotomy between life and death. Take a moment and read Philippians 1:21-26 and 2:19-30. Did you notice the contrast between Paul’s thoughts about life and death?

              In chapter 1, he is talking about himself and says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… I  long to depart and be with Christ – which is better by far” (1:21-23). A chapter later, in a passage about his friend Epaphroditus, Paul writes that Epaphroditus was sick to the point of death, but God healed him and saved Paul from “sorrow upon sorrow” (2:25-27). Heidi’s reflection was good and helpful. If, for the Christian, death is better by far, why is there sorrow upon sorrow when a Christian dies? Can you see the tension?

              Death is an enemy and thief. Even as we live in the shadow of the resurrection, there is the sting of death. When a loved one dies, we feel the pain and sting of separation that death causes. Even though our minds remind us of the glory our loved ones are enjoying, our hearts still mourn and miss them deeply. When we realize we will not see them again until glory, we have “sorrow upon sorrow.” For the Christian, both can be true. Death is better by far, and when a loved one dies, we experience sorrow upon sorrow. When talking about himself, it was only glory. With the thought of the death of someone he loved, it was sorrow upon sorrow.

              In 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, Paul encourages us with the promise of the vanquishing of death’s sting. At the return of Christ and the final resurrection, the sting of death will be conquered, and death will be no more. It is a glorious thought to realize there are no cemeteries, funeral homes, or even doctors in heaven. We will be fully and finally released from our life of sin and death to enjoy an eternity with our Savior, Jesus Christ, on a new heaven and earth forever. Today, death still stings us deeply, but one day, death will be defeated, and we will enjoy the presence of God, seeing Him face to face for all eternity. Be encouraged with the hope of glory.

Handwriting Scripture – Practical Steps

              Last time I encouraged you to consider the practice of hand-copying Scripture. I was encouraged to hear from many of you that you already practice this discipline. As more of you consider the practice, let me offer you a few practical suggestions. Remember, I’m learning as I go. I do think there are some best practices to consider.

  1. Start Small – As I began this discipline, I dedicated myself to a few of the smaller books. I tackled Philemon first and followed that with John’s three epistles. After completing those, I have started on the Gospel of John
  2. Choose your pen – Like an artist choosing the perfect brush that fits his hand, you will need a quality pen. Research the types of pens that work. They must fit well in your hand, be easy to grip, and smoothly glide over paper. Currently, I am using a Sharpie S-Gel pen. Thus far, I have enjoyed the feel of the pen and the results of using it.
  3. Choose your journal – For me, this was the least important. I found a few free journals at a pastor’s conference I attended, and they seem to work well for me. You need to find a journal that allows you to write. A few people enjoy writing on a flat surface and adding the paper to a binder after it’s full. For others, the journal is very important. Again, do a little research and find out what works for you.
  4. Little is much – I think this is a practice where a little goes a long way. I have found that about 10-15 minutes is a sweet spot for me. You will need to figure out the time frame that works for you. I’m praying God will give me enough time to complete the New Testament and hopefully even the Old Testament.
  5. Be flexible – When I started this process, I wrote everything in black ink. As I transition to the gospels, I’ve decided to use a red pen for the words of Christ. I have found this to slow me down even more, but it brings the words of Jesus to life. Learn as you go.
  6. Reward – The reward you are seeking is time with God and a deeper appreciation for Scripture.