...all of me

"Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18)

I have read the passage from 1 Kings many times.  In fact the whole Elijah story;  challenging The Baal prophets, the three year drought, prophecy spoken to Ahab, etc have always captivated me.  

I would have to say that the Revelation from Mt Horeb is pretty awesome too!  God demonstrates mighty acts before Elijah, but reveals himself to Elijah in a quiet whisper....Awesome!  Now for verse 18...

I have been familiar with the 7000 persons that God had preserved in Israel.  I have been aware that these ones had never bowed a knee in idol worship (I have prayed many times to be like one of those ones.), but somehow I managed to read right over the last part of the verse.  It's this last portion that has me captivated "...and all whose mouths have not kissed him." 

I have an immediate understanding of what bowing means both in definition and culturally to the people of that time.  But I'm captivated.  With the exception of maybe...intercourse...kissing is about the most intimate thing I can imagine. And I'm not speaking of the sloppy, wet, full mouth kiss necessarily.  

The word kiss here is "Nashaq" which, more than intimacy, speaks of homage. These ones, preserved and protected have not only kept from serving the spirit of the age, but have not honored it with an intimate expression.  They're regard is both physical and emotional.  

The message to me is this...in the same way that they stood for God in a depraved generation, I believe I am called to stand, but here's where it becomes personal...

If these 7000 did not "kiss the Baal", then I believe the reverse is true. By not kissing the Baal, they were actually kissing God.  How many times in our culture have I had the opportunity to not only stand for what I believe but show my adamant love for God?  I have stood many times, quietly out of obedience to honor God concerning moral issues in my generation.  Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I have determined to make a stand.  

But my call is deeper.  I believe God is calling me to an outward expression of love.  And I think this is demonstrated through my emotions too.  I have the opportunity to express my love for Jesus and "Kiss the Son" (Psalm 2:12).  

So let me be counted with the ones who would be marked for righteousness, but also let me be marked as one who is radically in love with the One!  Let me serve him with ALL that I am and kiss him with the kisses of my mouth.  

I will love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength!