Today is much more than the first day of November or the day after trick or treating fun. Today is All Saint’s Day. This is the day that we remember the saints of the Christian faith that have gone on before us.  I know some Protestants who shy away from the idea of saints.  Some think that others hold saints as idols to whom we are to pray or that we are to implore them to do something for us.    I think those are a big misunderstanding of the saints.

We can remember All Saints Day as a day to remember the way God has used the people in our lives to teach us more about him.  Who are the people who first told us about God’s Love?  Who are the people who taught us to pray?  Who taught us how to show God’s Love to others through acts of service and compassion?  These are our saints.

We also remember the saints of history.  Those who have, for centuries, labored in love for Christ.  We stand on the shoulders of these giants in our local churches, our Christian schools, our colleges and universities, and our seminaries.  These are our saints.

We remember the saints who face(d) persecution.  Some of these Christians were martyrs, paying the ultimate sacrifice for their faith in Christ.  Christian who are martyred  for their faith still happen today.  The organization “Voice of the Martyrs” tells the struggles and miracles in the lives of these people living today.  You can read more about those struggles and miracles here.

So on this All Saints Day we remember Rob’s parents, our grandparents, great grandparents, (great) aunts and (great) uncles, and dozens throughout the generations.  We remember the Sunday School teachers and choir leaders who taught us as children.  We remember the preachers who loved us and our parents–even when we seemed to ourselves unlovable.  We remember that all of these were not perfect, but we are thankful for their example that pointed us to Christ.  We remember the way God has used them for his glory and to teach us more about him.  We encourage you this day to remember your Saints.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!