A Phrase We Need to Hear More Often
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I have enjoyed an audio book of stories from Christmas past. In a story I was listening to yesterday, a family overheard carols from the church beside their house.
They also heard a reference to prayers for our fellow man. “Fellow man,” I thought. “I don’t hear the term fellow man like I used to.” And I thought about how much we need to embrace the concept of our fellow man.
I looked up the meaning in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. The definition there is “a kindred human being.” I like that. With Adam as our ancient father, we are indeed kindred human beings.
As we remember the birth of Jesus in special ways during this season, we have the opportunity to think about why He came. Philippians tells us that though Jesus existed in the form of God, He was born in the likeness of men.
 Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, as He already existed in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant
and being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death:
death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6b-8
Jesus loved us enough to become a fellow man; He loved His fellow man enough to die for us.
We all lament the divisions in our country. When we are tempted to join the verbal fights, may we be among those who close our mouths and hold our fingers back from the keyboard while we remember that each person who listens to and reads our words is our fellow man, our kindred human being.
While others complain and argue, may we be blameless and innocent. May we appear as lights in “the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.”
Do all things without complaining or arguments;
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God above reproach
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you appear as lights in the world . . .Â
Philippians 2:14-15
On the eighth day after John the Baptist was born, the Holy Spirit filled his father, Zechariah, and Zechariah prophesied. May we allow the Sunrise on high to guide our feet into the way of peace. Let’s do our part to fulfill the peace on Earth that Jesus brought. What a beautiful example that will be for our children.
. . . the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:78b-79
