Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 1, 2015
Guest Writer: Meet my son-in-law Tripp Prince. We are blessed to have him as our guest writer.
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2
Years ago I had the privilege of visiting the United Kingdom, touring many of the great cathedrals of that country. Those medieval buildings soar high above the homes and businesses that surround them, pointing our eyes heavenward and inviting us to enter into the worship of Almighty God. Whenever I encounter these types of sacred spaces, I am reminded of the prayers and witness of the men, women, and children who have gone before us, this “great crowd of witnesses” (Hebrews. 12:1).
However, when we look to the past, there is a constant temptation to view it through rose-colored glasses, forgetting that those Christians were broken and needy humans, just like we are today. Culture and technology may have changed, but the human heart remains the same. As Paul reminds us, Christians in every place are called to be saints.
Is it intimidating to think of yourself as a saint? It is for me! I certainly don’t expect to find my way onto a stained glass window in the near or distant future. Yet I wonder, is this really what Paul meant when he said that each of us is called to sainthood?
Perhaps we’ve set the bar too high.
When Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he certainly didn’t view them as perfect or a “pure” class of Christians. The Christians in that day were greatly challenged; struggling with drunkenness, sexual immorality, and abuses of authority and power. Yet he called them sanctified ones, saints who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. How can this be?
In the Bible sainthood is linked not to our level of holiness, but to the free gift of God’s grace. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect or never mess up. What God asks of us is to acknowledge our need and consistently turn to him for forgiveness and new life.
Remember, God gives his grace to the needy, not to the person who thinks they have it all together. A true saint is someone who knows their sin, but also knows the faithfulness and sustaining love of their savior (1 Cor. 1:8-9). If you call upon the name of the Lord for salvation and new life, then this word today is a word of great hope, because the Bible calls you a saint! Rejoice in this news, and seek to live a life worthy of the saintly identity God has given you (Phil. 1:27).
Prayer: Father, thank you that you have called us to be saints. May we respond to your grace in faithfulness, holiness, and with great joy for all that you have done.
Application: What does it mean be a struggling saint? What fellow struggler needs my encouragement?
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 6:41; Psalms 30:4; Romans 8:27; Ephesians 2:19
Post/Tweet this today: Sainthood is linked, not to our level of holiness, but to the free gift of God’s grace. #wisdomhunters #saintsbygrace
Worship Resource: 4 minute video- Hillsong United: Scandal of Grace
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