“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.” Philippians 4:21(NASB)
I did a search on the word ‘Saint’ recently as I had read a commentary by Martin Luther that we are both ‘saints’ and ‘sinners’. Are we saints? The world causes me to reluctantly identify myself with that title as it tells me that is reserved for a person with a higher spiritual level than I possess. Identifying with the title ‘sinner’ is a given for me, but being called a ‘Saint’ is something that we shy away from when that title is brought up in our conversations.
Roman Catholic theology indicates that "A saint is one who has exhibited unsurpassable devotion to Christ." The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a “Saint has a special work in interceding with God for the souls of people which are captive to the pain of purgatory.” On the day of Reformation Luther took a stand on these teachings and we are so thankful that he did. The saints in the attached photo attend Bon Berger Lutherienne in Caredeux and they, like us are both saints and sinners.
It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul’s most used word for Christians is the word "Saint." A search on the Internet indicated that he used it 45 times in his epistles and when he speaks of saints, he is referring to ordinary Christians like the children in Caredeux and you and me. The hymn ‘Saints of God, the Dawn is brightening’ was written by Mary Maxwell in 1849 and her words seemed to be an appropriate to close this devotion.
“Saints of God, the dawn is bright'ning, token of our coming Lord; o'er the earth the field is whit'ning; louder rings the Master's word: pray for reapers, pray for reapers, in the harvest of the Lord! Now, O Lord, fulfil Thy pleasure, breathe upon Thy chosen band, and with Pentecostal measure send forth reapers o'er our land, faithful reapers, faithful reapers, gath'ring sheaves for Thy right hand. Soon shall end the time of weeping, soon the reaping time will come, Heav'n and earth together keeping God's eternal Harvest-home. Saints and angels, saints and angels, shout the world's great Harvest-home.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay