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Somebody Loves You - June 26, 2017

 

Fellow Citizens with the Saints

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, - Ephesians 2:19-20

Many Christians do not know it, but today is All Saints Day. It is a day set aside to celebrate and recognize the people who have walked with the Lord throughout time. It was originally started by the Catholic Church, in the Middle Ages, in opposition to the pagan holidays. It was intended to focus the people on the saints who had gone before them and their great faith in the Lord.

When I think of great saints, I am reminded of the pastors and teachers from England and Europe—men and women who knew God and His Word. They spent time in prayer and taught the people the truths of the Bible. I think of Charles H. Spurgeon, Alan Redpath, D.L. Moody, G. Campbell Morgan, Charles Finney and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

There were also great missionaries who faced tremendous hardships and persecution to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the World—men and women who include: Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot and Paul the Apostle. Some even lost their lives in service to the Lord.

It is so cool, because you and I are fellow citizens with these great saints, because we are members of Christ’s household. We are children of God. You are a saint because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. You do not have to do something great, but we should always seek to share the Lord with all who are perishing, just like those who have gone before.

The saints are the walking pictures of God.
~Thomas Watson~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!