Greeting With Meaning

"Today's Devotion" For July 7, 2005

Read: Jude 1-2; Matthew 26:47-50

GREETING WITH MEANING

"To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance." (Jude 1-2)

"Hello! How are you?" is probably the most common and benign greeting in our society. It's usually accompanied by the wave of a hand, the nod of a head, the tipping of a cap, or a handshake, but not much else. For the most part it's a "social grace" required by "polite society" which gives us license to go through the motions of caring about how someone is, but without having to really care at all. Accordingly, it's a pretty rare occasion that any response other than "I'm just fine" or "Doing okay," gets any kind of reaction. For that matter who's even listening?

Yet, as benign as this greeting has become, we Christians can use it as a way of opening doors to sharing the love of Christ with others. As we greet others through the course of a day, our greeting can take on a deeper meaning and truly reflect Christ's love for them. Jude's greeting, or salutation, to those to whom he was writing, reflects such a concern and expression of faith. It reflects the Gospel and assures the recipients that they are loved and valuable. His greeting is a reminder to them that they belong to God because they are His redeemed children in Jesus Christ. He clearly desires that they would have every good thing that comes with faith: God's mercy upon them and, thus, His forgiveness; God's grace toward them so that they might know they are redeemed by Christ; God's love for them in that while they were still sinners, Christ died for them.

Following such an example, we can become champion "greeters" for Christ. As we greet people during each day we can reflect the same loving and gentle spirit that Jude's greeting reflects. As we offer greetings to others each day, we can greet them in Jesus' name with a prayer that the hope of heaven might be theirs as well. We want to intentionally let people know we care about them and that God loves them. We want to ensure that when we greet others we're not doing so perfunctorily, but with a genuine attitude of concern for their welfare and needs. Our desire is to reflect our relationship with Jesus to others so that they can truly believe that they are loved by Him and by us. I'll bet you never thought a greeting could have such meaning?

Prayer: Father, I have to admit that I'm not always very interested in how others respond when I greet them. It's become something of an automatic part of dealing with others that most often doesn't have a whole lot of genuine concern behind it. I ask Your forgiveness, gracious Father, for such lovelessness on my part. Help me to be ready at all times to listen and show genuine concern for those I meet and greet. Show me the opportunities You give me to love others and the doors You open each time I meet someone in need of Your love. Let my greetings of others be a powerful expression of Your love for them in Jesus; in Whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @ 2005 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.