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TEXT: I Thessalonians 5:26
SUBJECT: A Meditation for the Lord's Table
"Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss".
This is not a verse often expounded at the Lord's Table. But it should be. The Lord's Supper is a "feast of charity" Jude tells us. That's the theme of our text. What does it say about love?
1.It says that love is ambitious. Paul doesn't write, "Respond to all of the brethren with a holy kiss", but "greet" them. Take the initiative. Don't wait to be loved by others; you love others.
2.It says that love is brotherly. "Greet all the brethren..." We love each other, not because everyone is charming or agreeable, but because all of God's children are brothers and sisters.
3.It says that love is universal. "Greet all the brethren..." Every believer should be loved, loved dearly, for Christ's sake.
4.It says that love is visible. "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss". Its not easy to kiss someone without him knowing it. In the same way, our love should be obvious. No one should be left to wonder: "Does anyone love me in the church?" Brotherly love should be unmistakable. The "holy kiss", of course, is cultural; we needn't follow it to the letter, but we must obey its spirit.
5.It says that love is sanctified. "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss". I don't think Paul is guarding against lascivious kissing in the church. I think he's aiming much higher than that. He wants the love of Christ for us to impel, sanctify, and direct our love for others.
What was said of the Early Church ought to be said of us: "Behold, how they love one another". We needn't institute ritual kissing to achieve that goal. But we must act in a sincere and visibly loving way toward each other. Let us repent of our bad attitudes; of our cold formalism; of our exclusion of others. Let us follow the teaching of God's Word and--in spirit, if not in letter--"Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss".
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