Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

As a youngster, my son was very fond of dill pickles. Aaron is now in his 30s and he still loves dill pickles. As a little boy, he would come in from romping and playing outside and I’d grab him, set him on my lap and kiss his rambunctious cottontop head. And it would smell like dill pickles. If I climbed on a ladder and sniffed his head today, it would probably still smell like dill pickles. They say you are what you eat. So I suppose my head  smells like chocolate.

My friend Ruby loves God and loves people. And this lifestyle she has chosen makes her very easy to love in return. When I’m in her presence and we’re saying our good-byes, she will lean forward with a big smile and a twinkle in her eyes and kiss my cheek. I know what’s coming, so I stand there, close my eyes and gratefully receive her kiss of Christian friendship. Believe me, I know that one little act of kindness will fill up a love tank for several days. A friendship kiss is not all that common in today’s cultural practice, but I grew up in a demonstrative family of huggers, kissers, laughers…and weepers. I understand and appreciate genuine outward expressions of the heart.

What’s in a kiss? Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus and it meant nothing more than betrayal. But when a former prostitute kissed Jesus’ feet it showed her gratitude, love, and adoration for Him. Outward expression comes from the inward heart. Four times in the New Testament, the apostle Paul teaches the importance of expressing earnest heartfelt affection. We would do well to understand that a repeated teaching is always important and shouldn’t be blown off. “All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss” (1 Corinthians 16:20 NKJV). “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (2 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV). “Greet each other in Christian love” (Romans 16:16 NLT). “Greet all the brethren with a sacred kiss” (1 Thessalonians 5:26 AMP). And then Peter jumps on the bandwagon and writes, “Greet one another with a kiss of peace” (1 Peter 5:14 TPT).

The resurrected Savior told Peter that his mission would be to strengthen the faith of believers. So Peter preached and wrote to Christ followers encouraging them to remain faithful to God and to love others. “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT). For believers who say, “I don’t know what God wants me to do,” then “here’s your sign” straight from the bold lips of Peter.

It’s clear that God wants His children to practice genuine Christian  affection. We should seek to grow in our love for others because we belong to the Father of Love. We’re to take the kiss of the world and sanctify it, make it holy, and devote it to God. We are including God in our hearts when we greet one another with a kiss, hug, fist bump, high five, hand shake, or touch on the shoulder. Just choose the tool of love that suits you and lay it on people. When we express Christ-like affection for one another, our hearts are literally  saying, “You are precious to me and I value our relationship.” What a difference we could make if we would only break our rusty cage and run in the power of love.

The Key: Do something, don’t just stand there like a cow looking at a new gate!