Day 321..."Ezekiel is graphic...Paul ponders his fate"

Ezekiel presents a message of both the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Pretty gloomy and very gross! I had trouble with this reading.

Paul writes about rivalry of preaching. Some preach for personal reasons. Paul defends himself and at one point concedes God can even use wrongly motivated preaching saying..."as long as the gospel is preached"...sounds like he is confident of God's power. He does ponder his fate. (in prison, and in life or death) ..."For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again." Paul is strong. As Ellsworth Kalas has said..."whether they agreed or disagreed with Paul they could not ignore him!"