Ephesians 2: 17 – 22

I’ve yet to have any of my close friends or relatives die. About the closest I have been to anyone (thing) who died, was one of my cats. Really. At least up to this time.

However I have had a few good acquaintances of mine die. Most, if not all of them, were fellow believers. Although I didn’t know their personal lives very well, I was well aware of their faith. They weren’t that close to me, but they were very close to Jesus. I marveled at their faith. In it’s simplicity, it was lovely.

As we just read, through the work of Christ, we are no longer strangers to God, but instead, He calls us saints. We are special, holy, sacred people through Jesus.

Some people that we encounter in life seem to really exemplify that title of “Saint”. Maybe you know someone like that. And maybe that person has since died. In the Christian faith we call them “the saints who have gone before us”. We have some special days in the church year set aside to especially remember the saints who have gone before us. November 1st is always “All Saints Day”, when people gather in church, or elsewhere to remember and thank God for the people who have impacted our lives with their faith example. Some churches also celebrate this on the first Sunday of November, called All Saints Sunday.

This is important to do, because the faith that we have today, is based greatly on the example of saints that have gone before us. As verses 20 and 21said, a foundation and the rest of the building of the church of God is being built on the work of the saints before us. And someday we will join them in the strengthening of that building!

Let’s not wait until All Saints Day to celebrate them. Today, remember and thank God for the Saints who have gone before you. Relatives. Friends. Pastors. Teachers. Whoever. List them. Recall the great work they did in your life. - Richard M.
For all the saints who from their labor rest,
All who by faith before the world confessed,
Your name O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!