Mosaic’s Motto for 2009

I wonder what you are thinking as we get stuck into the New Year. What are your goals and ambitions? What are your aims for yourself, your job, your family, your studies, your mission group or your fitness? I wonder what excites and drives you as you look at the year ahead. Well let's take a peep into the life of the great ambassador of Christ, the Apostle Paul and see what made him tick. What was his ambition? What was his motto for life?

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1.21)

For Paul, if God allowed him time to live then that meant a life of service to the Lord Jesus. The only natural response to the saviour who gave it all for him was to give everything back - “for me to live is Christ”.

However, if he is to die (Paul is in prison in Rome at this time), that is a good thing because he will get to be with Christ in unshielded glory - “which is better by far”.

In fact, this motto so dominates his life that it leaves him with an extraordinary dilemma - “yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain” (vs22-23).

Either way, Paul’s motives are Christ-centred. If he dies then he can be with Christ. If he is to carry on living then he can live for Christ, serve Christ, preach Christ and build up the Philippian church - “fruitful labour” (vs22).

I wonder how many of us wake up with this dilemma each morning - “God, I desire to depart so I can be with you today in a place that is free from all the sin and evil of this world…yet I know you have work for me to do on earth so I am delighted to stay here”: in reality, probably very few of us. Yet surely that is the attitude we should have! As we consider what Christ has done for us and the room in heaven that he is preparing for us (John 14.2), no other ambition or goal in life is more appropriate.

So whatever the year ahead may bring, whatever fears or joys lie ahead, may we as individuals and as a church devote every minute that God has given to serving Him.

Let our motto for the New Year be “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.