Saturday, November 8, 2008
Hebrews 12:1 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.
REMEMBER AND IMITATE SAINTS OF THE PAST
An important part of our celebrating All Saints' Day is remembering with gratitude to God believers who have gone on before us into glory. Let us praise our heavenly Father for the tender mercies He showed to the Enochs and Noahs, the Abrahams and Sarahs, the Gideons and Davids. Let us thank Him for the goodness He has shown in telling us about their life stories in the Bible so we can read them and benefit from them.
Let us also remember with thanks to God saints of the past who were part of our lives, who have gone on to their eternal reward. Family members who used to sit with us in the family circle. Beloved fathers and mothers. Aunts and uncles. Fellow church members who once occupied a place in a nearby church pew on Sunday morning, worshiping Jesus with us. You remember them, don't you? They had their share of tribulations to endure. Their mettle was tested as soldiers enlisted in the army of Christ. They were called on to valiantly fight the good fight of faith. Now, by His grace, they are among the white-robed saints reigning in glory, having been preserved in faith to the end.
"For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confess,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest!"
And let us petition the Holy Spirit for grace to imitate these saints in their childlike trust in Jesus and faithful clinging to the truths of His Word. Let us pray He would grant us the spiritual fortitude we require for continuing our fight of faith, that we may lay hold of the eternal life to which we too have been called.
"Lord, may we Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor's crown of gold."
Alleluia and Amen!
