“The Kiss of LIFE!” We’ve heard throughout life that if we do this or that that’s BAD for us, it just might be the “kiss of death.” This week, however, I want us to focus on Paul’s words from II Corinthians 13:12 where he talks about greeting one another with a holy kiss. That request, or wish of his is preceded by these words, “Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” He is calling us to put our “spiritual house” in order. Then he admonishes us to listen to him. When we live in peace with one another it’s what God had in mind since the beginning. When we can do that we are assured of God’s presence in our lives; thus, the KISS OF LIFE!
Monday, June 20 -
The kiss of life is never more evident that when we read the Creation story from Genesis 1 and 2. Everything God touched then, everything God continues to touch is touched with the kiss of life. I love for my mind to go to that time of creation. I can imagine the coming together of everything, ONLY possible by this God we love and serve. We’ve heard the scientific justifications of some of these things since third-grade science class. As much as some people want to rationalize everything, for me, it could not have happened without the kiss of life, that kiss is from our God!
Tuesday, June 21 -
Psalm 8 is a continuation of the creation theme from the Genesis passage this week. It too, reminds us of the importance of God’s kiss, that is, God’s majestic touch of everything in creation. The psalmist revisits the vastness, the awesome power of God. Yet, God chose US, you and me, to be partners to share in all that ever was and ever will be created. With God’s simple, yet all-consuming kiss of life we are called to be stewards of what God has made. How awesome is that! God has entrusted us with EVERYTHING. Yet, our response is often less than it ought to be. Think today about the ways God’s kiss of life touches everything around you. Endeavor to be the best steward you can so that God’s creation continues to be preserved for successive generations.
Wednesday, June 22 -
It’s been said that the most significant part of any conversation is while one party is on the way out the door. If that is true, Paul said one of the most significant things in both his letters to the people of Corinth as he was preparing to take his leave. He not only gave people the best possible advice to live by (as I shared in the opening paragraph above), but also assured his readers that our Trinitarian God would be with them (hence us) always. That’s the “kiss of life!”
Thursday, June 23 -
In Matthew’s concluding words from his gospel, he quotes Jesus as reminding the disciples what God had told humanity since the beginning of time. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples….teach them to do everything I have told you.” Jesus is handing out God’s authority to all of us who would follow him. It was not so we’d just accept the honor and sit back and relax. No, instead we are to go and make more disciples. It’s up to us to pass the holy kiss of God to all we meet; for our own good and the good of the world.
Friday, June 24 -
In Matthew’s concluding words from his gospel, he quotes Jesus as reminding the disciples what God had told humanity since the beginning of time. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples….teach them to do everything I have told you.” Jesus is handing out God’s authority to all of us who would follow him. It was not so we’d just accept the honor and sit back and relax. No, instead we are to go and make more disciples. It’s up to us to pass the holy kiss of God to all we meet; for our own good and the good of the world.