All-Saints Day // M-Note 11.1.24

On my shelf at home, I have a Bible that is special to me. It belonged to my grandfather and each morning he would read from it later in his life. Though I never talked to him about it when he was alive, I suspect he liked this particular Bible because it has study notes and commentary printed in it to help you better understand what you were reading. He was smart, very faithful, quiet, but with a committed and informed faith. He served in his church and even when his own health was failing, he made himself available as a care minister to others within the congregation. I knew he went to church, and I knew he served, but I only learned about his daily scripture reading after he died. My grandmother gave me his Bible and told me that he wanted me to have it. I was 20 years old, still in college, and had no clue what I would end up doing. I often wonder if my grandfather saw something in me that I couldn’t see yet.
 
I think about my grandfather a lot, especially as I get older. I wish the adult version of me could have a conversation with him. I sometimes wonder if he approves of the path I took, is proud of me, or what words of wisdom he would have for me. He is a model for me in so many ways and I know that he still inspires and informs my own faith and life today. For me, he is a saint, one who shaped my own faith deeply. I am grateful for him, and for all the other people who played a role in helping me learn about the love of God in my own life.
 
For most of us, this Friday is just the day after Halloween. But in the church it is All-Saints Day, the time that we remember the saints who have gone before us. This includes the famous Christians who we collectively look up to. But it also includes the people that have played a role in each of our own faith journeys. Today is a time set apart to remember and give thanks for those people.
 
But All-Saints Day is about more than remembering. The author of Hebrews writes,
 
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12.1)
 
The Bible tells us that we are surrounded by these saints. The image is of a stadium where they are cheering us on as we run our own race. They are not just people we remember, but they are people that are still with us, still surrounding us, and waiting for us to cross that finish line where they will be ready to celebrate with us.
 
So today, I invite you to remember the people who have inspired your life and faith. Say a brief prayer of thanksgiving and name those persons to God. Finally, use the inspiration they provide to keep running the race that God has called you to run, knowing you are not alone!
 
Peace,
 Matt
 
P.S. This weekend, I will continue my series on the book of Job, Why Do Bad Things Happen? If you missed Part 1, you can listen or share it here. Also, don't forget to follow along with the reading plan for the book of Job found in The Gathering app.