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I recently rejoined a Saturday Morning study that is focusing on the book of Proverbs. We are diving into the topics of wisdom, greed, foolishness, pride and selfishness.  

Although we all struggle with these issues at one time or another, selfishness is of particular interest and is defined as being excessively or exclusively concerned with oneself.  Selfishness is said to be the number one problem among all marriages and the cause for all divorces.

The corresponding book to go with Proverbs, is a small book by Tim Keller, called The Art of Self-Forgetfulness, which deals with the topic of selfishness in a unique and biblical way. The main scripture associated with that book is from 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:5.

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

What is truly remarkable about Paul’s words? He is saying that he does not care what the Corinthians think of him. In fact, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. His self-worth is not tied to their evaluation of him. If you read carefully, Paul goes one step further in saying he doesn’t even care what he thinks of himself and that his conscience is clear but that does not make him innocent. He knows that his worth is judged only by the Lord and that is the opinion that counts. Not his peers, enemies or the Corinthians and not even himself. The verdict is in and he is guilty and he knows it. Christianity is the only faith where the verdict leads to performance instead of the other way around. Paul has forgot about himself as a result.

In the great book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis has some remarkable insight on a term he calls “gospel humility” which was so well displayed by Paul in the scripture above. C.S. Lewis indicates if we met a truly humble person, we would never know they were humble. A gospel-humble person is totally interested in others without boasting about himself. In fact, the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. Self-forgetfulness.

How do you obtain gospel-humility or self-forgetfulness? Paul makes it clear in Corinthians that he is not innocent, as none of us are. But for those of us who have put our faith in Christ, the verdict is in. We are guilty but have been saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. He was put on trial for all of our sins that we deserved to be punished for. This is the grace given to us that leads to us living our lives for Christ and realizing that the only opinion we need to be concerned about is His.

There is no doubt we all struggle with selfishness at times in our lives. However, by trusting in Christ and realizing there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, we can move to the stage of self-forgetfulness and live a life free from guilt, shame or comparison. A life where the verdict leads to performance and a life of gospel-humility.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2

Give that teacher assurance that she/he is called.

 

Give that teacher and her class health.

 

Give that teacher insight.

 

Give that teacher grace and extra love.

 

Give that teacher energy.

 

Give that teacher the gentle authority she needs.

 

Give that teacher peace today and let her kids love on her.

If you would like to help encourage teachers at A. Montoya, Shine Cookie Posse needs you:

In-Person, VBS was AWESOME!

Wow, what a wild, amazing week!!! Last week, MCC hosted 65 children at Vacation Bible School. It was different this year; we hosted it outside, had no ability to use Video, hosted a smaller number of attendees, we didn’t spend lots of energy decorating, planned and put it together in a month, and had lots of new workers. Many changes.

And yet, it was so very much the same. 

The overall theme was Christ-centered: TRUE confidence is learning to see yourself the way GOD sees you. This was supported by the daily themes; I can have confidence because I am known by God, I can have confidence because I am forgiven, and I can have confidence to make a difference. Jesus was tied into each activity – crafts, games, small group, and snack. 

Workers.  This year’s VBS was blessed with 53 volunteers, 17 of whom were new this summer, and four were from the local community!  The volunteers  ranged from 9 to 80 years of age. Everyone found their role and utilized their talents/strengths, including one young lady who dressed up and acted like a sheep!

God Provided what we needed, as we needed. God used this body in mighty ways.  We had the perfect number of group leaders and helpers.  When someone was unable to attend, another volunteer would pop up. On Monday, two days before VBS, we did not have a leader for Games, and I started to worry.  And then, out of the blue, a young man contacted me, asking what we needed.  Within 30 minutes, the whole team had signed up. God's hand was upon these three days in many ways! 

Everyone had fun! Fun is key when teaching kids, and fun was everywhere to be found.  The stories, the skits, the activities, and the games – all were geared to be fun while learning about Jesus. Even the daily lessons, taught by Pastor Frank, were fun.  (Your pastor is fantastic with kids and VBS)

The 2021 VBS was different AND the same.  So, the question: What did we learn?  What do we take away from this experience? A reminder and a lesson. The reminder: This is God’s program.  It will work because he makes it work.  He brings the workers and the kids. He sustains the energy. The Holy Spirit is active in our hearts and our groups, encouraging love, mercy and grace for one another.

The lesson: We don’t know what the effect will be on people, just that it will glorify God and be within His will. Is it that a seed will be sown into a young person, or their family? Is it that a family will venture into public groups for the first time in 17 months? Is it the first time that a child will be away from a parent without being upset?  Will volunteers find purpose and inspiration while working at VBS? Is the effect that the community will see the light and love of Christ in the body of MCC?

The truth is that all of these effects happened last week.  All of them and more.  God has been glorified, and He has blessed MCC and this community mightily.  Thank you for whatever part you played in the VBS at MCC. Each part, no matter the size, counts. And honors the Lord!

Hello – My name is Mike, and I am a recovering alcoholic.  For 42 years I wandered through this world angry, dishonest, ashamed, and afraid.  I placed my faith in material things, but nothing ever seemed to satisfy.  I mistreated those who loved me, and I lived with a self-serving attitude.  I hated myself and did not feel like I deserved to be loved.  When my alcoholism forced the end of my 22-year relationship, I was lost.  I was defeated, broken, and desperate.

In the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous I learned that I had to place my faith in a power greater than myself if I were to survive my addiction to alcohol.  It was there that I met a man named Adam.  With Adam’s help as my sponsor, I set out on my journey to find a higher power and be free of alcohol and the anguish that came with it. I learned that my entire way of thinking needed to be changed.  I could not depend on my own willpower to get me through this life. That self-will only left a trail of pain and destruction everywhere I went.  I learned that I could not do this alone.

After working some of the AA steps with Adam, I began to receive what AAs refer to as “gifts”.  The gift of clarity came relatively quickly.  I started to see that how I had treated people was wrong.  I started to see that the entire world had not been against me, but I had been against the entire world. I started to see that I had lived my life with a skewed sense of reality, with fear driving all my actions and reactions.  I learned to see how my behavior affected others instead of thinking about myself all the time.

While this program was extremely rewarding, there was still something missing.  I started attending Mountain Christian Church not knowing what I was searching for but hoping to find what I needed to feel whole.  I met a bunch of great people, and I met Pastor Frank.  After talking to Pastor Frank one evening about salvation and Christ, I knew I had found what was always missing.  I needed Jesus.  I had been living with what I’ve heard referred to in AA as a “god-sized hole” in my heart.  I heard someone in an AA meeting once say, “God brought me to AA and through AA I found God”.  I love that. 

Throughout this journey I have learned the importance of repenting for my sin and asking for salvation, and I have been rewarded every day since.  Be it the wonderful people He has put in my life, or the wonderful opportunities He has blessed me with.  The Lord has given me the gift of sobriety and clarity.  He has restored my sanity.  He has given me love when I needed it most, and even when I did not.  He has relieved me of the burden of self, and He has removed the mental obsession that led me to take that first drink.  Most importantly, He has taught me what it means to genuinely love others.  My life is not exactly the way I want it to be, but through the blood of Christ, I have been set free.  Despite my troubles, I can honestly say that I am happier now than I have ever been.  As the Lord said in Isaiah 30:15, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”

Today I declare to this church and the whole world that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  I testify before you so if you have any doubt about your faith, or you have struggles of your own, you may know that with His grace and His love, you too can be free.  I’d like to close with Romans 13:8, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.”   

Click here to watch the video of the baptism!