The
Saints are some of my heroes. I want to
have the same kind of passionate love for God that I sense in them. Hebrews 12:1 says: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us. When I read this verse, I
think about those who lived centuries ago whose words and instructions for
spiritual growth still resonate with me today.
I’ve gotten to the place where it is hard for me to read modern
spiritual writers. I value more highly
the authors whose writings have survived the test of time and continue to be
translated and reprinted in a modern age.
I
encourage every Christian to read the Christian classics. Three to start with are St Augustine’s Confessions,
Thomas A Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ and Brother Lawrence’s Practicing the Presence. There are so many amazing women writers, but
a great one to start with is Madame Guyon’s Experiencing the Depths of Jesus
Christ. These amazing souls who set
their life’s vocation to learning how to grow closer to God and share their
secrets with the world through their writings are true spiritual treasures that
we must not ignore. Their writings give
witness to their journeys through this dark world, yearning for the God they
sense calling them and urging them forward.
We are cut off from what they are experiencing with God since they left
this world, but we do have their human encounters and expert experiences
through their writings to lead us deeper into the heart of God. God used them to show us how to apply the
truths of the Word of God. I sense the
writer of Hebrews pointing out the great cloud of witnesses as an encouragement
to carry on. It’s a spiritual reality to
recognize through those who have gone before us that sin does so easily
entangle and hinder our personal path to God.
Yet these witnesses found a way to have faith in the Word of God to
carry on the journey and run toward Him with perseverance.
Hebrews
12:2-3 continues to expose the way of the Saints: Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the
joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Those whose lives
exemplified Christ so much that they are considered worthy of imitating lived
in this way because they learned how to fix their eyes on Jesus. Becoming a true saint is about faith. It is about joy beyond your circumstances. Saints in this world lay down shame at its
source—sin. They received the righteousness
of Jesus Christ that He purchased for us on the cross. They believe wholeheartedly that their own
shame and the shame of sin they recognize in every person they meet are no
match for faith in Jesus Christ.
November
1 is All Saints Day in the church; and Halloween may overwhelm this church
holiday in our culture, but hopefully not in our hearts. When you think of Halloween, remember it is
All Hallowed Eve before the day we celebrate what faith in Christ can do in the
life of a sinful human being!
I
hope you had a happy Halloween and a sacred All Hallowed Eve.
Copyright © 2015. Deborah R Newman teatimeforyousoul.com All Rights Reserved
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