“The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.” I Corinthians 16:19-21
A greeting is “an expression of kind wishes.” This first week of school, teachers have greeted students, students have greeted one another, and parents have greeted their children as they arrive home. And with a thankful heart, I send my greetings to you.
This summer I was able to greet brothers and sisters on another continent. One of our GAC graduates works with Campus Outreach in Johannesburg, South Africa. On a short layover at the airport, we were able to visit with Kris, a young lady who loves the Lord with all of her heart. If Kris could share one thought after a year in the mission field, I believe she would say, “Grow closer and closer to Jesus! No matter what we do, He is our hope!” How easy it is to think we accomplish things on our own, but Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” If a young missionary has learned this in a foreign land, how much more is it true for me!
In the country of Namibia, I got to greet lovely Christians who have dedicated themselves to serving children, many of whom have lost their parents to the AIDS epidemic that has ravaged much of Africa. If they could share an encouragement, they might remind us of these words of our King: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.”
In Cape Town, I was able to greet my youngest brother, Brian, his wife, Sondra, and their two little boys, Noah and Bryson. What a warm reunion. “How good it is for brothers to dwell in unity!” I also got to see many Congolese refugees that I consider dear friends. I can still feel the hug I received from Mama Marcelle in the cold rain of Cape Town. Being on the opposite side of the equator, it is winter in South Africa, but a warm greeting removes the chill of any season. What joy to fellowship with brothers and sisters who prayed diligently for my recovery four years ago. Though we don’t speak the same language, there is love that goes beyond our differences. These Christians, far from their war-torn homeland, might remind us that this world is not our home. “These people… living by faith… admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
What blessings we have in Christ! May we have fellowship with Him every day. He gives us reason to live… and He puts life into our greetings.
“I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.” III John 13-14