Greet one another with a holy kiss. Romans 16:16.

F. Scott Fitzgerald reckoned the kiss originated when the first male reptile licked the first female, reminding her that she was as succulent as the small reptile he had for dinner the night before!

A man had a problem with his wife talking, non-stop. He went to a counselor for help. The therapist asked the lady, ‘What seems to be the problem?’ and she started talking and went on and on for about eight minutes. The counselor had an idea. He went over to the lady, knelt in front of her and kissed her on the lips!

She stopped instantly. So the counselor turned to the husband and said: ‘I think we’ve found the solution. She needs to be kissed!’ The husband was very impressed, and asked, ‘How often do you think she should be kissed?’ ‘Oh, I would say at least three times a week.’ ‘OK, then,’ said the husband, ‘I’ll bring her in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.’

Lord, help me to show appropriate affection to the ones I love. Amen.…..

KISSING BEASTS!

People are kissing calves! Hosea 13:2.

Canaanite fertility gods sometimes took the form of calves. So kissing a calf-idol might make your crops grow or cure a barren womb! Israel’s prophets thundered against such pagan practices.

A kiss can be many things: it can be seductive, or a sign of family-love, or a greeting (in some cultures) to a loved or esteemed guest, or the seal of commitment between lovers. Judas kissed Jesus when he betrayed him. (When a rogue kisses you, says a Hebrew proverb, count your teeth.) The lovers in the Song of Solomon celebrate their love with kisses…

Because of our perverse human nature, the five New Testament exhortations to greet each other with a holy kiss became contentious. If you were an unchurched husband of a pretty wife, you’d be worried about what went on at church meetings too! Some early church councils had to define exactly what a ‘holy kiss’ was! So be careful. Some people aren’t huggers/kissers; you will need to be sensitive about that. But, as happened when Beauty kissed the Beast, some people are wonderfully transformed when they are kissed.

Lord, I’m ready to ‘kiss beasts’! Amen.…..

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• Lovers Of Pleasure More Than Lovers Of God
• My God Turns My Darkness Into Light
• God Will Redeem My Life From The Grave
• Blessed Are Those Whose Strength Is In You
• My Times Are In Your Hands

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