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It’s a day that receives NO recognition.
I don’t know why. I have no explanation. It’s simply a fact.
This holiday (Holy Day) is the third most important date on our calendars. Third only to Christmas and Easter.
And yet, year after year, it comes and it goes with nary a mention. As happened Just l last month!!!
So in this PODCAST, we are going to mention it. What this holiday is. How it came about. What it means to you and me. And why we are the poorer for not observing it.
Get ready to feel affirmed, my friend. Because truth be told, this Holy Day is in reality YOUR day.
Let’s get started by reading Matthew 13:24:
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
Now, on November 1st of each year, a dramatically meaningful day hits our lives – All Saints Day! It’s a day when we celebrate those blessed people whom God has placed in our lives to encourage us and draw us closer to Him. In many ways, it’s a day when we celebrate Paul’s words in Romans 13:7:
7 Pay to all what is owed to them… respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
And it’s on this day when we ought to pay respect to all the saints in our lives. But who are these saints? I’m not talking exclusively about the individuals that the Vatican has declared saintly, but each and every one of those who have chosen to follow Christ.
Who? You? Me? Yes.
Look at Acts 9:32 –
32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
Or consider Paul’s words in Romans 1:7 –
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then we read in 1 Corinthians 1:2
2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those consecrated and purified and made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be saints
Did you hear that? Those terms apply equally to us Christ followers today as they did to the church in Corinth 2,000 years ago! In fact, if you look at the Amplified Bible, when it clarifies the word “saints”, it calls them (and us) God’s people – those who call upon and give honor to the Lord Jesus Christ. Just like us!
You are then, by definition, a saint!
Paul also wrote in Ephesians 1:15-16:
This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
There are actually 104 times that the Bible makes reference to Christ’s followers as saints.
It’s amazing what you learn when you read the Bible. Particularly that the celebration of All Saints Day should not be a day when we celebrate a small group of individuals that the Catholic church has deemed “saintly”, but all of us who call Jesus Lord of our lives!
So, if we are all saints, then we should make an intentional effort to, as Romans 13:7 says, to “Pay to all what is owed to them… respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” and honor and respect the saints you know with the honor and respect that they are due.
Then, we will see more clearly the people around us who Jesus compared to the good seed in a farmer’s field.