Are You Humble?

Let each of you look carefully not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 3:4 

It is an interesting study in human nature to watch 3K students in action. Most have spent the first years of their lives in families where they have no competition for attention. Most are used to having their own toys which they can claim with the phrase, “mine.” Most are not used to having to share, to be compassionate, or to wait patiently. Even for those who have been baptized and whose families are regular in worship, it is hard for them to look out for anyone’s interests but their own. 

If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to make the same conclusion about ourselves. Extrovert or introvert, we would love to have all of the attention be on us. Selfish or giving, we still have the tendency to want to hold onto what the Lord has given us. Impatient or patient, we would still much rather have it our way, right away. It is hard to look outside of ourselves to see the best interests of others and to put them first. 

This can only be done as we serve God under the light of the cross. 

The Apostle Paul calls us to reform our attitude, to be like Christ Himself. He calls us to consider the depth of humiliation Christ took on. The Almighty Son of God took on human flesh. The Creator of all things became just like the humans He created. He took on flesh and blood and set aside the fullness of His deity for a time. He subjected Himself to the laws under which God’s people were to live. He did this for no other purpose than to fulfill what we could not. 

And if that humiliation were not enough, Christ humbled Himself to death on the cross. It would have been injustice enough that God should die on the cross simply for the truth that He was the real King of the Jews. But injustice reigned even more supremely when the Holy One of God died to pay for all of the sins of every sinner whoever turned his or her back on Him. This is humility beyond all human understanding. This is the sorrow and love flowing mingled down as the hymn writer has written. 

Are we to simply gaze upon such humility and walk away unmoved? Certainly not. Having been so loved that we have received grace through the cross, we are motivated to live humble lives where we are empowered to live beyond our own interests. Having received the benefits of Christ considering our best interests on the cross, we are compelled to live for others. May the grace of God dwell richly in our hearts and turn our hearts to Jesus and to others. Blessings. 

Frank Van Brocklin 

Principal Teacher 

Coming up at Immanuel Lutheran School im the near future: 

❖ On Thursday, September 28, the whole school will take a field trip to Miss Marsha’s Pumpkin Patch.

❖ On Tuesday, September 6, at 6 PM, there will be a meeting of the School Accreditation Committee to discuss our school self-study. If you would like to serve on this committee, please attend. 

❖ On Friday, October 6, the school will attend the Homecoming Parade for MASH. Please note on the permission slip whether you will be picking up your child at the parade.