Don't kiss like Judas

The Bible tells us to greet one another with a kiss 1 Peter 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Recently I read that the early disciples would greet one another with a kiss of peace, the kiss sealed their collective commitment to the Lord for their new way of living. It was an unspoken rebuttal to the kiss that Judas Iscariot had placed on Jesus cheek the night of his betrayal. I don’t know if that’s a fact but I found it pretty interesting.
With that said this is one of those jewels that keep me humble as I share with you the junk God is still dealing with inside of me.
See what had happened was…
I volunteered to speak at a ministry I attend each week, however I totally forgot about it. It wasn’t until I was on my way to the place I remembered and thought to myself I will have to wing it. Now winging it isn’t always a bad thing for me because I usually try and let God lead my words BUT I’m usually prayed up before I open my mouth. I thought it odd that no one said anything to me on the drive over about me speaking but I didn’t want to bring it up since I felt bad I hadn’t remembered and would just act ready.
As you know when I mess up I like to go all out so prepare yourself. After we got to the site I saw a young man getting ready to speak and the leaders didn’t seem the least bit surprised that it was him and not me. Well I got on my high prideful horse and thought what the heck I’m supposed to be speaking. Mind you less than 15 minutes ago I didn’t even remember. You would have thought I would’ve been grateful that the Lord had my back but NOOOO, I got on a pride kick. I was listening to this young man speak and thought, is he even a member of this organization? Why is he speaking? I didn’t think it was the most inspirational message especially when he quoted a verse from James.
James 4:9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
What kind of verse is that to say to people who were struggling? I would never have used that verse! What does that verse even mean??? James must have been confused or depressed when he wrote that.
This young man was on fire as he paced back and forth sharing God’s word and I was a total butt head not receiving any of it. Later that night I even poked fun of his speaking style to my friend. Not to his face of course cause that wouldn’t be nice....
When we leave the site we say an informal goodbye to one another but on this night this young man made a point of coming over and hugging me before he left. That was my first pang of guilt but I pushed it aside and gave him a Judas kiss goodbye.
I KNOW! I can’t believe I’m even sharing this with you, not gonna lie I’m pretty ashamed.
Well you know the Holy Spirit doesn’t let me get away with anything for too long. He loves me too much to not teach me a lesson. The next morning I go to a Beth Moore Bible study and as fate would have it, it’s on James. And guess which verse she’s talking about? You guessed it James 4:9!
Beth shared a conversation she had with her daughter Melissa. Her daughter was telling her she has no idea what kind of things people share on the internet so Beth decides to check it out. She Googled her name and was shocked at the things people wrote about her. She said the thing that hurt the most were the things her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ wrote about her. Things that weren’t true and if for some reason people thought it was true she couldn’t’ understand why they didn’t call or write and ask her about it. She said she expected to be ridiculed from the world because Jesus said to expect it but from fellow Christians it really shocked her. Beth went on to say that this is what the verse from James means. When we as Christians see sin or things that grieve the Holy Spirit it should turn our joy into mourning. Gena translation, we should be sad when people kiss like Judas.
Luke 22:47-48 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
UGH! That hit me right between the eyes. The Holy Spirit brought to mind my sweet brother that I had slammed the night before. It doesn’t matter that he didn’t know, God knew and worse yet I thought it. He let me know I didn’t speak that night because my heart wasn’t right, I had a pride issue. The Lord reminded me that I would have to keep pride in check especially since speaking is a big part of my ministry. That young man was right where he was supposed to be and little did I know he was speaking for me. My actions should have turned my joy into sorrow. They didn’t that night but they sure did the next morning.
Gems I share these stories with you to remind you that we all struggle with selfish thoughts as we’re growing. That’s the basis of the book of James, it’s a manual if you will on how to live your life after you accept Christ as your Savior. I heard a guy say being a Christian doesn't mean we stop sinning it just means we stop enjoying it.
When I left that night I should have given my brother a kiss on the cheek that represented peace and love and a mutual commitment that we are trying to live the way Christ showed us. It was a reminder to me to get myself in check every time I interact with another brother or sister in Christ. I hope it helps us all to make sure we’re not giving out a Judas kiss when we embrace one another. I pray it will remind us to give a kiss of peace and love xoxox