The saints in heaven and on earth…

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

No matter what life (or death for that matter) holds, God is the beginning and the end. God is in charge and in control of the world and all that is within it. In times of trouble or distress, it can be easy to forget that little tidbit. God has dominion over all things.

Each year on All Saints’ Sunday or Day, we hear the Beatitudes as recorded by Matthew or Luke. Most years, we hear this as a promise to those who have departed this life. It is also a reminder of God’s dominion. God has the power to comfort those who mourn; give the earth to the meek; grant mercy to the merciful; fill those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; reveal His glory to the pure in heart;  claim the peacemakers as children of God; and grant the kingdom of heaven to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; and give joy to those who are reviled for His sake. (paraphrase of Matthew 5:1-11) Who else can claim that power?

As we undergo turmoil and discord, we are reminded that God has the power to unify His people. Moreover, God does unify His people. The Apostle Paul wrote to the churches in Ephesus, “So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, ²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:17-20) Strangers become family. Foreigners become citizens. The Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.” (Small Catechism, 3^rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed)

Christ is the cornerstone upon which the Church in heaven and on earth rests. He blesses it with the Holy Spirit and guides it in the way of Truth. God holds the power over life, death, and resurrection. That power unites all the saints in heaven and on earth – making us no longer strangers, but brothers and sisters in Christ. Not dependent upon our own power, God’s good and gracious will that drapes the blessed cloak of sainthood upon of shoulders – now and forever. The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. (Revelation 22:21)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

As seasons change…leaves float to the ground…crops are harvested…temperatures drop…daylight fades…we remember it is all a gift. God has blessed us abundantly. God has strengthened us. God has protected us. God has infused us with faith.

You have been sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and sealed with the cross of Christ forever. You have been given the Holy Spirit and united with the Body of Christ. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,…” (Romans 8:14-17) Your prayers are led by that Spirit that calls God, “Father!” You have been filled with the Spirit to call upon the name of the Lord and be confident that He listens.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” (Hebrews 11:1,3) God has blessed us with His Holy Spirit to allow us to trust His word and believe in that which we cannot see.

This is not the faith of the weak. This is not the faith of the wavering. This is not the faith of the anxious or timid. This is not the faith of the world or of the flesh. This is the faith of those who belong to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit within us bubbling with the faith and power of Christ Himself. It is the faith and power that in perfect obedience conquered sin and death.

This is the faith that strengthens the weak. This faith bolsters the wavering. This faith calms the anxious and fortifies the timid with valor. This is the faith that heals the sick and raises the dead. This is the faith that forgives sin and conquers evil. This is the faith bequeathed upon you by God, your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)