Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

GREETING

October 27, 2009

When we see the word, "Greetings" at the beginning of a letter, it's hardly pondered. It's really little more than a casual "hi," or "howdy." And then we get to the important stuff.

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Greet Andronicus, and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are oustanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Romans 16:6,7 TNIV

Paul urges the welcome of these people into one another's lives. "Greet"--he uses the word seventeen times as he closes his letter. This is not a "hi," but a rearrangement of a Christ-centered life. If you re-read Romans 16, the greetings, note also the substance and what these people stand for.

You and I are Christ-followers. That is an invitation to the substance of Christ. Substance takes time, not simply the acknowledgment of harried lives, but repentance. "Greet one another." That takes time and intention. It ain't a "howdy," but a Christ-centered intention.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson