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1 Thessalonians 5:26
It was customary with the Thessalonians, and continues in many cultures today, to greet family and loved ones with a kiss. As the Apostle Paul is leading the Thessalonians in developing relationships within the church to care for one another, encourage one another, and comfort one another as they become brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, he is implying that they should do just that, relate to one another as family.
This is a command to love one another as Jesus first loved us.
The startling part is that the church was made up of Jews and Gentiles alike, the rich and the poor. These types of boundaries separated the people that Paul was preaching to, and they continue to separate people today. In Christ Jesus there are no cultural boundaries, but all are one in Christ. Paul teaches in Galatians 3:26-29 (NKJV), “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” This is a direct reflection of the words of Jesus in John 13:34-35 as He declares, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We inherit a new family in Christ Jesus when we open our hearts to Him and profess Him our Lord and Savior – as we begin a new life of seeking His will for our lives. We inherit a new family that we should care for and support as this is the will of the Lord for our new lives in Christ.
Dear LORD,
To greet one another with a holy kiss is to care for one another as family. This is Your will for our lives in growing as Christians. Please help us to understand that as cultures may change and in the post-covid era a kiss may not be sound advice, Your will for us is to follow the advice of Jesus as He has commanded us to love one another as He has first loved us. We all are one family in Christ; please let our words and actions be reflective of it. In Jesus name I pray, amen.