What Can You Learn From A Kiss?

By Author: Terry Dashner
Total Articles: 105
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What's in a kiss?

Terry Dashner.Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Remember this slogan? You could learn a lot from a dummy. The slogan comes from a government, public service announcement (PSA) which flashes over radio, television, and the Public Square, with the goal of inculcating the lessons about seat-belt safety. The PSA has been streamed so many times that, upon hearing it, the general public immediately thinks of two crash dummies, putting themselves together after crash testing without seat-belts.

I guess it's true. You may learn something from a dummy if presented in the right way. But for my brief topic of study, the question I raise is this: can you learn anything from a kiss—whether presented by a king or a jester? I think so.

Remember the story of King David and his rebellious son, Absalom? The last sentence in II Samuel chapter 14 states, And the king kissed Absalom. (NIV) If you read the entire story, you discover that David's kiss was a kiss of hopeful reconciliation between Absalom and him. But Absalom had other intentions and wanted ...
... nothing to do with repenting, and reconciling before his father. That's a shame because it did not end well for the traitor.

As a matter of fact, Absalom did some kissing of his own. Under the auspicious shelter of his father, he greeted all at the city gates with a bow, a kiss, and these words, If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice. (II Samuel 15: 4-6; NIV) Guess what? Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel—with a kiss and a treasonous word of rebellion.

Allow me to fast-forward several centuries later to an upper room prepared for a last supper. Jesus has stooped to wash the disciples' feet, even the one who will betray him to the enemy. Later that night, in a garden, the traitor comes with the temple guards to seize Jesus. He identifies Jesus by a kiss.

May I share something with you? A human is never more vulnerable than when he or she receives a kiss. Think about this. Before another human being may enter your personal space and kiss you, that person has come under close scrutiny by you, right? When you receive the kiss, you have no idea whether or not it's genuine or benign. Only the person who gives the kiss knows.

Over the years, I've learned that compliments from others can be like kisses. Some compliments are genuine with the party throwing them, wanting nothing more than to express good will to another human being. But, I've also learned that some hand out kisses to promote a self-agenda. Maybe you've learned the same lesson.

I am resigned to this fact. As long as I live on this sin-tainted planet, I will never know the true intentions of another man's heart until it is revealed. I will not despair though. Men are fallible; however, there is one man who is not. His name is Jesus. And He has kissed my heart with grace and proven Himself faithful to me, time and time again. I allow Him close, personal, space daily and receive His embrace with gratitude. And for the record, I am constantly checking my heart to make sure that the kisses I am giving Him are from a sincere heart of love and not a rebellious one.

Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again, soon.

Pastor T.

About the Author Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. U.S. Navy veteran of the Viet Nam era. Retired police officer with the city of Tulsa. Father of three grown children, and grandfather of two.