Are You a Saint?

Chuckle: "She took him for better or worse, and he was worse than she took him for!"

Good Quote: "He who lives to live forever, never fears dying." --William Penn

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi . . ." (Philippians 1:1b NIV).

When you hear the word "saint," what image comes to mind? Often, we think of a saint as someone who is a cut above others in his/her faith, commitment, and daily walk with our Lord. The term, "saint," literally means "holy" or "set apart" for God's use. We must guard against the idea that "saint" implies an extraordinary level of moral and spiritual attainment.

The word saint has come far from its original New Testament meaning. When we think of a "saint," we think of some stylized human figure depicted in stain glass, or a person long dead who has been officially declared as an ecclesiastical relic. However, one of the clearest definitions is, "A Saint is a dead sinner, revised and edited." –Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green

The setting apart comes from God, not the individual; but holy and Godly character should be the mark of every Christian. The church members at Philippi were saints because they were in Christ -- because they were Christians. Paul emphasized this point by addressing them as saints as he began his letter. If you are a believer, you are a saint as the word is used in our passage. As saints, what should our lives be like?

In I Peter 2:9 NIV, we are told: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." This describes you and me if we know Christ as Savior and Lord -- if we are in Christ. So, as Christians, as saints, as a chosen people belonging to God, we have experienced the wonderful light of God's love and are to declare his praises to others. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 NIV).

A little boy attended a church that had beautiful stained-glass windows. He was told that the windows contained pictures of Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, Saint John, Saint Paul, and other saints. One day he was asked, "What is a saint?" He replied, "A saint is a person whom the light shines through." –Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green

Are you a saint? Is the Light of the World showing through your life? If so, you will experience the joy that comes from being in Christ and fulfilling God's purpose for your life.

Love, Jerry & Dotse