MONDAY November 23, 2020
Greetings!
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:16
Interestingly, in this culture, the holy kiss mentioned by Paul was always a kiss of greeting, whereas in America we shake hands. Yet in greeting someone in Chile, usually a person would receive a kiss on both of their cheeks. Commentators agree with this Scripture that the greeting was a kiss on the cheek from one man to another man, or from one woman to another woman. The men would never kiss the women. They stayed away from the appearance of evil. I believe Paul has given us insights into this culture so we can know how to stay away from any appearance of evil.
Paul left us with an endearing list of names––his fellow laborers in Christ. One day, in heaven, we are going to meet all these wonderful people whose names are all written in the Book of Life. I found that as I studied these names, I thought of how many more people need to be trained in ministry. Church leaders do not lay hands on someone suddenly (1 Timothy 5:22), but as believers in Christ become mature, leaders pray for them as they are called into the ministry. Some will go out into the world to begin a work that God has called them to do.
God desires to use your life whether you are a painter, carpenter, nurse or office worker! God uses all kinds of people in all kinds of places. No matter your vocation or where you have been placed in this life, God can use you to touch people’s lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As God gives you the opportunity, you can tell them the Gospel message so they do not perish (John 3:16).
May God continue to raise up people from generation to generation to go tell people about Christ. They will have to warn people of the judgment of God, but also share with them about God’s great love and grace.
"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. Living, praying, giving and going will always be found together."
~Arthur T. Pierson~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!