SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/29/2014
10:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: A Request
for Affection
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1
Thessalonians 5:26
Message of the
verse: “26 Greet all the brethren
with a holy kiss.” “26 Give a handshake all
round among the brotherhood (Philips).”
MacArthur writes “Greet conveys the intention of a
friendly and righteous gesture, as opposed to a formal, reserved
acknowledgement.” I quote this section
because perhaps we don’t understand what Paul is saying when he instructs them
to greet each other with a “holy kiss.”
Now when he says “all the brethren” his is leaving no one out, which
would include the women also. I, at
times, use the NLT of the Bible, but one of the problems that I have with it is
that it uses “brothers and sisters” in places where versions like the NASB,
KJB, and others only use the term “brothers.”
I am not one who puts down women, but let us look at a verse from 1
Timothy to help show what I am talking about here: 9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves
with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold
or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is
proper for women making a claim to godliness. 11 A woman must quietly receive
instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach
or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who
was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but
the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But women will be
preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love
and sanctity with self-restraint.” What
Paul is saying here is that there is an order in God’s creation and He created
man first, and then woman, but that does not mean that women are inferior to
men. We only have to look at the trinity
to see that there is an order there. God
the Father is not superior to the Son or to the Holy Spirit, but the persons in
the godhead do submit to each other and that is what He desires for mankind
too.
Now when the elders in the Thessalonian church receive
this letter they were to pass it on to the entire church and by giving each a
holy kiss they would show the love that Paul had for all of them. MacArthur writes “As members kissed, they would
tangibly demonstrate love for one another as well. In Paul’s day, it was customary for people to
greet a superior with a kiss on the foot, knee, elbow, or hand; but friends
kissed one another on the cheek. (The wretched hypocrisy of Judas Iscariot’s
kiss is the most twisted illustration of this custom [cf. Matt. 26:29]. Among believers, the holy kiss became a
symbol of genuine love and affection; but it was more than a liturgical sign or
ritual gesture performed only during worship services—it was a spontaneous, personal
display of affection practiced whenever believing friends met.” I suppose that when we look at movies and see
how kissing is used in them that somehow we have a problem with this way the
believers in Paul’s day used a kiss when greeting each other. This perhaps is why people as early as the 13th
century began to abandon this practice.
I realize that there were no movies then, but people began to take
advantage of this practice, making it something more that a greeting.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I think of a time
when my father was living his last days on planet earth and while I was
waiting, along with the rest of the family for him to pass on; I was listening
to a Christian station who had a contest on.
I answered the question and won a record. I told the lady who gave me the prize why I
was in her state and she gave me a big hug.
Now I had never met her before but because we were both believers that
seemed like the right thing to do. That
would be like what Paul was telling the readers from Thessalonica who gave each
other a holy kiss.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Be more affectionate with other believers.
Memory verses for the week: Colossians 3:1-7.
1 Therefore if you have
been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set
you mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died, and you life is hidden with
Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our
life, is revealed, you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your
earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed,
which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is
because of these things that the wrath of God will come on the sons of
disobedience; 7 and in them you once walked, when you were living in them.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Joshua” (Joshua 10:12).
Today’s Bible
question: “What was the chief city in
Macedonia where Paul preached?”
Answer in our next SD.
8/29/2014 11:05 AM
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