Greet one another with a holy kiss. Romans 16:16
We love to kiss. Whether it’s a quick kiss in public or a long passionate kiss in private, kissing is important to a healthy marriage. The bride said to her lover in the Song of Solomon, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth…” (Song of Solomon 1:2).
Sadly, according to a study sponsored by the British Health Foundation, 20% of married couples kiss only once a week! And 40% of those couples only kiss for 5 seconds. And only 5% of those couples aged 45 and up kiss on average four times a day.
LETS RESOLVE TO KISS OUR SPOUSE A WHOLE LOT MORE OFTEN!
Five different times in the New Testament believers are encouraged to greet each other with a “holy kiss.” We’re pretty sure the “holy kiss” referred to is probably like the European double-cheek-air-peck.
But in the context of marriage, a good, long kiss is holy, healthy, and fun!
Holy
You and your spouse were created for intimacy. God told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:28). And at the end of the creation account we read, “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). God MADE you to be intimate and he GAVE you to each other for intimacy. Kissing as often as possible maintains that intimate connection with your spouse!
So fulfill your created calling and kiss each other!
Healthy
According to a WebMD article kissing has some of the following health benefits:
- French kissing washes bacteria off of your teeth.
- Underlying facial muscles are exercised—helping you look younger and happier
- Passionate kissing burns up to two calories a minute—a whole new way to exercise (though your fitness tracker won’t pick this one up!)
- Kissing relieves stress, which increases our overall health
- Kissing releases oxytocin, the calming chemical in the body that relaxes you
- Dopamine is released, which increases the feelings of romantic attachment
So get healthy and kiss a lot!
Fun
Need we say more? 🙂 Kissing brings you close to each other. You are nose to nose. Your lips are one of the most sensitive areas of your body. They are packed with nerve endings. When you kiss, neurotransmitters and hormones start firing off in your body, the oxytocin and dopamine kick in—and fireworks happen!
So have fun and kiss!
Make it your practice to kiss each other as often as possible and see how it draws you close as you build your marriage!