Daily Devotional | The Power of Greeting

What do airlines, big-box retail stores, restaurants, and churches have in common? Many of them have greeters. Greeters stand at the entrance and welcome you. They are such a common feature these days that we hardly notice them.

Paul’s letters often included greetings. Like the letters, emails, and messages we send, friendly greetings like this were often included in letters written during the New Testament era. But Paul observed this custom with a theological twist. For example, in verse 21 he greets “all God’s people,” or as the Greek text puts it, “every saint.” What makes every Christian worthy of this title? Paul reveals the answer in the second phrase of this verse. It is because they are “in Christ Jesus.” This shared bond changes the nature of our relationships with one another. We were once strangers, but we are now part of the same spiritual family. All those who are in Christ are “brothers and sisters.”

The apostle’s mention of “those who belong to Caesar’s household” in verse 22 is a vivid demonstration of the power of the gospel to unite those who come from a wide variety of social backgrounds. This is not a reference to royal family members but to those who served as slaves and freedmen. Paul’s closing benediction reveals the secret that unites such a diverse group into one spiritual family, that he designates as “all God’s people.” It is the shared experience of God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 23). When you greet someone in the church, it’s not just about being polite. You are acknowledging the bond you share in Jesus Christ. You are a family, connected by our Savior. Together, we live in Christ.

>> As we conclude this study of Philippians, consider what you have learned. What are your biggest takeaways? What verse or passage has stayed with you? Tomorrow, join us as we begin a new study: Women of the Old Testament, Part Two.

Pray with Us

Father, Your grace in salvation is unfathomable, but You don’t stop there. Your grace is expressed in the people who spiritually mentor us, in the gifts You have given us, and in the sanctification You promise.

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.