02/02/10

A Holy Kiss

Romans 16:16 - Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.


All scriptures are to build, correct and enlighten us unto salvation in Christ. But problems come when people cut things from scriptures or paste their own unto scriptures.

There was (is) this Man of God of great faith who was also instrument in enlightening me about the importance of the Word of God (God bless him for that). But at one stage of his life he started giving more importance to this scripture, the one which we received as today's message.

He encouraged people to greet each other more lovingly and so all people in his ministry became more and more friendly. Soon without people's notice the 'Holy' in the scripture ceased to exist and people were just greeting each other and some times more than greeting. This affected him also very much such that his own marriage was on the rocks and he was living away from his wife and family for some times. But by God's grace now he is back with his wife and lovely family.

As a Christians we should know our 'do' and 'do not'. We are people who live in spirit; our being is led more by our spirit then by our flesh, our spirit is more real than our flesh. So when we greet each other we should greet people more in spirit than in the flesh. It does not mean one should not touch another. It is important that we discern when we touch another if it is our flesh which is in command or our spirit is? Holy are we, when we do it the godly way, the spiritual way not the fleshly way.

Paul also specifies in his letters of how we should interact with each other, including the limits we should maintain. So let us not walk the serpent's way by misusing scriptures to satisfy our flesh.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, You are Spirit. Your Kingdom is not of this world but is the Spirit world. The Spirit world is real and more than this temporary world of flesh and matter. Lord, help us to discern our every action and thought. Help us to correct ourselves before things get out of hand. Let your grace and mercy be upon your people than those who are still lost in their fleshy ways may correct themselves and turn unto your holy ways...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Romans 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

Galatians 3:22
22 But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 7:25-27, 36-38
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.
26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin [unmarried woman]. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the
Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [unmarried woman], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.
37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, shall do well.
38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)