God Sees HerMuestra

Being Human Beings

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. —1 Peter 3:8

When asked to define his role in a community that was sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff simply explained, “We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis.”

His humility—his stated equality with his fellow humans—reminds me of Peter’s words to first-century Christians suffering under Roman persecution: “All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). Perhaps Peter was saying that the best response to humans in crisis is to be human—to know we are all the same. After all, isn’t that what God did when He sent His Son—became human in order to help us? (Philippians 2:7).

Gazing at the core of our fallen hearts, it’s tempting to disdain our human status. But Jesus teaches us how to live fully human, as servants recognizing we are all the same. “Human” is how God made us, created in His image and redeemed by His unconditional love.

When we encounter folks in various struggles, let’s respond humbly—as fellow humans who work together with other humans in crisis.

Elisa Morgan