“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you.” Philippians 4:21 HCSB
To greet, from the Greek concordance fond in the Blue Bible App: Used of those accosting anyone; of those who visit one to see him a little while, departing almost immediately afterwards; to pay respects to a distinguished person by visiting him; of those who greet one whom they meet in the way; a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing, a journey was retarded frequently by saluting.
To greet each other with a Holy Kiss. To show up and release your Peace toward those who are worthy of you peace. To welcome them into your personal space. To welcome with a welcoming handshake and a hug.
I have a hard time with hugs. I’m not a hugger my family is not huggers. There are those who do love hugs. Someone told me that in their family when you showed up you were expected and encouraged to hug everyone who was already there and then welcome everyone who showed up with a hug. And then when you left you hugged everyone one again on your way out maybe twice. I think of the old movies when someone walked into the room that everyone would welcome you with a loud cheer of “Hello!” This the way that we should be greeting one another whenever we see each other. We should not be the one who sees the pastor coming and cross the street or hide into the nearest shop.
What a way to welcome sinners into our fellowship. We welcome them with no special treatment whether good or bad. Jesus certainly did. He found someone who would welcome Him in and He “changed” His plans and go eat with them.
We need to get past the “how’s it going?” To the “how are you really doing? And how can I help?” mentality.
“Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.”
1 Thessalonians 5:26 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/1th.5.26.hcsb
“Greet a household when you enter it, and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.”
Matthew 10:12-14 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/mat.10.12-14.hcsb
“My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
James 2:1-4 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/jas.2.1-4.hcsb
“He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man! ” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much! ””
Luke 19:3-8 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/luk.19.3-8.hcsb
“Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.”
Luke 7:36 HCSB
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