Greetings VCS Friends and Family! 

It’s not all about me.  This thought keeps coming to mind as I move about my day, inside the office and out.  It’s obvious I know. But it is not always obvious to ourselves at the moment of decision. It is our natural, and human instinct, to consider first how “I am affected/ how we are affected.”  It is only by the training of the mind “in Christ” to begin naturally,  by the power of the Holy Spirit, to consider first how the Gospel of Christ is best lived out and best propelled. It is possible. 

For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:16

And how do we train our children and our students that “it is not all about them”?  This too is possible.  We have God’s Word and we have our example. Our example may fail at times, but even then we have the opportunity to model correcting ourselves and modeling humility and the motivation to raise high the standard of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-4

We have Jesus’s words which will never contrast His character.   He came humbly, in the form of an infant, completely vulnerable, walked the earth as a man and gave His life on the cross for our benefit! Jesus lived the life of a servant and came not to be served, but to serve others! It’s astounding really.  How easy it is to look around ourselves and consider “what would be easier.” We consider far more often that we should, how others could meet our needs.  And this becomes such a burden. We become very aware of our discontent. How much better it is, and how freeing, to have your mind more consumed with easing someone else’s discomfort.   

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 

But we are in progress. He who has begun a good work in us will be faithful to complete it!  Praise Him for taking all our unrighteousness so that we could become righteousness!  

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Let us pray together for recognizable opportunities to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our words, actions, and grace toward one another!  Let’s pray that the Spirit of restoration, reconciliation, would be hallmarked by the Peace of Jesus Christ in our Hearts.  

Have a very blessed weekend! 

In Christ, 

Kathy Thompson