There is a guy on YouTube who has learned to speak many different languages and it is interesting to see what happens when he starts speaking to people in their own language. In one clip this guy goes into a store and and begins speaking in one of the languages of Nigeria. The moment he says the first word a nigerian guy in the store lights up and comes over and greets him enthusiastically with a very friendly greeting. Which brings to mind the wonderful greeting we should receive, and give with other believers when we meet them. Those people are bound together through national heritage, but we are bound together through spiritual heritage, made possible through the blood of Jesus. I believe that is one of the strong points that happens when people go to another country on a mission trip. We meet people who speak different languages and find out they know Jesus too and it shows the gospel has no bounds. Our greeting as Americans should also be a happy greeting when we meet other believers. This special bond is made possible by Jesus. Paul spoke of this bond in Galatians 6:10 where it says 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
I don't know much Spanish, but I know Como te llamas (what is your name) and so while in Honduras I tried my four words and the first person I said it to told me their name and then "took off" in spanish and I immediately realized I was in over my head and told them, with hand gestures that I didn't know their language. The face that had lit up when I asked their name quickly became disappointed when they realized I had not taken the time to get to know more so we could converse together. They actually knew quite a bit of English and we were able to talk at length.
Which brings to mind, what should be our greeting as believers? Early Christians greeted in this way in 1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. It will change the whole feeling of getting along if our greeting is one of love and connection and that connection is made strong and positive by Jesus. When checking out of a Wal-mart one time the checker was really upbeat and friendly and I thought "She has got to be a Christian' because she had another level of joy. So I asked her. "Do you know Jesus"? She lit up and that joy was seen even more as she told me "Yes, I know Jesus and He is my Savior". That encouraged me even more than her and I left there realizing there were more of us out there. Whether we believe it or not, we need each other and that fellowship is a blood bought fellowship that should cause all other fellowships to pale.
So share your faith when God gives you opportunity and you will be encouraged as well when you meet another believer and an immediate joy and friendliness will come over you and that person. It's awesome greeting others in "the faith"!!! No other greeting compares to that one, so get to greeting and you will be happy you did it. As a believer it is so good to hear someone "speaking my language!"
The Pilgrimage Continues.....
David Warren
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