All Saint's Day

November 1st  is All Saint’s Day and PVUMC had their All Saints Services last week on  November 3rd and November 6th.  This yearly commemoration reminds us how we are connected to the church.  We get to celebrate those who gave their hearts and lives to the Lord and now they are with the Lord.  Growing up, I thought saints were statues in some churches.  Later I thought of Mother Theresa and Billy Graham.  A saint I ain’t!  But the Bible teaches us that you and I are saints.  If you are a follower of Jesus, then God calls us a “saint”.  1 Corinthians 1-2, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours…”  God calls us a saint if we simply trust Jesus. 

We do not pray to the saints.  Matthew 6: 6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”  We do not pray through the saints.  1 Timothy 2: 5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”  We remember them and allow their faith journey to push us forward in our worship and in our service to God.  They are a great cloud of witness, not because they look over us, but because of their great testimony of God’s grace in their lives.  

Hebrews 12: 1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” I can think of so many saints who were witnesses to me and their witness had a great impact on my life. Now they are enjoying rest, salvation and joy in the presence of their Heavenly Father! All Saint’s day is a day to remember the saint’s gone before us and to encourage us to press on in this race and look forward to our great reward!