Living Mosaic’s Motto - Know Freedom!

A few weeks ago I posted a little reflection on Paul's remarkable statement from Philippians 1:21, "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain" and wanted to encourage us to maybe make that our motto for the year.

I just want to quickly think about what it would mean to live the first part of this motto: “for me to live is Christ”. What would be the results? What would happen? Well, the first thing that strikes me is that far from being an inhibiting motto it would actually be a motto that would enable us to live in true freedom. Let me explain what I mean by way of example.
Imagine if your motto was “for me to live is to pass exams…” or “for me to live is to get a boyfriend…” or “for me to live is to be successful in my job…” (you can fill in the blank). All are good things in and of themselves but if they are your motto, your ultimate reason for living, then there are two problems that are likely to come about.
Firstly, what happens if you don’t live up to your motto? What if you don’t pass your exams, you don’t get a boyfriend, you are not successful at work etc? Then it is not just upsetting or tough; you lose the very reason you were living which will only leave you more desperate (or enslaved) to achieve your motto.
Secondly, what happens if you do live up to your motto? Then when you pass your exams or get a boyfriend or get the success you were looking for you might be pleased for a short while but you have again (rather ironically) lost the very reason you were living. Again, that will only mean you are more desperate (or enslaved) for something ‘bigger’ or ‘better’; there won’t be complete and lasting satisfaction.
So whether you live up to your motto or whether you fail to live up to your motto, you are left in a position of discontent and hunger for more. Again, there is nothing wrong with any of the things that you might live for, and praise God they are good gifts from him to be enjoyed, but if they are your main reason for living you will be enslaved.
But what about if Philippians 1:21 is your motto? What happens if living for Jesus really is the central motivating factor of your life, if as Paul says in verse 20 “now as always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death”?
Well, when you don’t live up to it he is a master who forgives and when you do live up to it he is a master who satisfies. Either way you are free. Either way you don’t have to feel you have failed or been left empty. You can rejoice that you are accepted by grace and not works and you can rejoice that “the steadfast love of the Lord is better than life itself” (Psalm 63:4). You can know true freedom!
Let’s live by the motto “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” because it is the only way to knowing true freedom in this world.
P.S we would love your comments on anything we are writing so please do post your thoughts.