As I was concluding my study of Corinthians, I was honestly struggling with anything that could be applicable. Chapter 11 is difficult. I LOVE chapter 12, and chapter 13 is your normal Pauline closing. Just as I was finishing the last few verses of the final chapter, my son runs over to "give daddy kisses." I chuckled and continued -- notice verse 12 -- "Greet one another with a holy kiss." I smiled and began to think about that simple sentence.
"Greet" -- means to draw to oneself or to receive joyfully. Our children do that to us daily because they love us unconditionally. They want to be with us. They want to know that we are there. Every night, my son and I have a routine. I'll read him a Bible story and pray. Then, he will "read" a Bible story to me and pray. I will lay down with him for 2 songs and then leave. As I am heading out the door, he will beckon me: "Daddy, stay here. Come back, daddy." Oh that we had such a desire for our relationship with our Heavenly Father!! Yet, we so quickly turn away from Him because our love and desire is conditionally based. I have a great deal to learn from my son.
"One another" -- means one another, but there is an interesting connotation here: mutually and respectfully. In other words, we are to reach out to everyone with respect; and if that is granted to us, we should reciprocate. Tonight, the kids were playing on the floor with my wife when the boy waltzed over to his mom and said: "Mommy, read with me." Her response, with a huge smile: "How can anyone say no to that?" Unfortunately, we do. Someone is reaching out to us but we turn them away for a myriad of reasons. My son does not know a stranger, which is good and bad. His friendliness will serve him well, and I need to follow that example by extending cordiality to everyone I encounter.
"With" -- we all know and understand that this is a preposition. Great, but how does that apply here? The term denotes position and use of the parts surrounding. Huh? Okay, what we have is a word that joins reaching out with a kiss (the part that follows); yet, underneath that piece is a relationship. Relationships that are based upon trust and comfort result in times of peace. Children and parents demonstrate that beautifully. When a bad thunderstorm rolled through several weeks ago, my son wanted one thing -- me. Why? He is comfortable with me around. The wind was howling and rain/hail beating on the windows, but he went to sleep in my arms -- a perfect picture of rest. That is how we need to be as the turbulent times arise in our world. Go to God and then go to sleep knowing that He will take care of you through it all.
"A holy" -- yep, this word is an interesting one. It is only found twice in the New Testament and it NEVER refers to individuals -- always things. The reference is to reverence or that should be esteemed. It is based upon "character springing from its relations, nearer or remoter, from God." Again, we see the same implication as the preposition: a mutual relationship with mutual motives and mutual esteem. That, in a sense, is true love between individuals in that they choose one another and take steps to maintain that character.
"Kiss" -- all the teenagers are anxiously awaiting this one so that they can say they have a Scriptural mandate to kiss the opposite sex. Unfortunately, this is not the mandate they seek. The term references a fraternal affection as a sign of welcoming or well-wishes on a departure. Go back to the initial example of my son wanting to give "daddy kisses." Why? Because he just wanted to. He wanted to show that I was welcome in his world. When I leave, his kisses are to say: "come back soon, daddy, so we can play." Do we treat others in a way that shows them they are welcome in our lives??
Whew! Who knew that children had so much to teach us from one little verse???
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