Running the Halls | October 9, 2026
Unshaken: Children of God
During chapel this week, our speaker, Pastor Jed Maschke, shared a picture that brought back some great memories for me and, admittedly, was pretty good for my ego. He had been an assistant track coach during my junior year of high school, and the picture showed our team at the state meet after we had won the state championship. There we were, looking pretty pleased with ourselves, medals hanging around our necks.
But instead of spending much time talking about those of us wearing medals, he drew our attention to one teammate who wasn’t. He had come to the meet as an alternate. He didn’t race that day, but he was every bit a member of our team. He had trained alongside us, contributed throughout the season, and was ready to step in if one of us couldn’t compete. The medal, or lack of one, didn’t determine whether he belonged. He already did.
That picture provided a wonderful illustration of Paul’s words in Galatians 3:21–29. Our place in God’s family isn’t something we earn by outperforming someone else or collecting enough accomplishments to prove that we deserve it.
Paul tells us,
“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
Our identity rests not in what we accomplish, the recognition we receive, or the medals around our necks, but in Christ.
That’s an important reminder for our students, and for all of us, in a world that constantly invites us to measure our worth by grades, awards, athletic success, popularity, or achievement.
At Sierra Lutheran, we certainly encourage our students to pursue high achievement and make the most of their God-given gifts, but those accomplishments do not determine their value.
In Christ, they already have something far greater: they belong. They are children of God. And because that identity rests on what Christ has done rather than what we have done, it is an identity that remains unshaken.
Pastor Micah Glenn
Head of School
Want to meet with Pastor Glenn? Schedule a time here.