Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. Romans 16:16 NIV
I read a story about two dogs who lived close to each other but had never met. They talked dog to each other from afar but that was the only way they had communicated. One day the husky’s owner left the gate open and the husky went straight across the street to introduce himself to his distant friend. They hugged over the fence.
Romans tells us to greet each other with a holy kiss. Like the dogs, it could also mean a holy hug. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. In Genesis 18, Abraham is visited by three strangers. One is called the LORD and Abraham begs them to rest and wants them to stay for dinner.
Some folks put a lot of stock in first impressions. They can make or break a relationship before it even starts. We are ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20) and how we present ourselves is a direct reflection on him. We can either draw people to Jesus or turn people totally away from him.
As part of your church congregation, are you welcoming strangers into the family of God? Is your hospitality showing on Sunday mornings? Do you represent Christ during the week? Remember some have entertained strangers without knowing it. Let’s welcome each other in Jesus’ name.
