Ahh the wearing of the green and all that that entails!!
It’s the 17th of March and the celebration of the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s Day is a widely observed holiday dating back 100’s of years the complete history of it can be found on Wikipedia as well as many other sites. There is a lot of history and emotion behind this holiday. More than I can cover in this brief post but I will address one thing here, for better or worse. Sainthood.
Saints, Sainthood and the idea of some believers being “holier” than others.
A search of the word “saint” will show it defined as “one who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness” Wiki or “To regard or venerate as extremely virtuous” Yahoo and many more.
For me the only source used to define things is the Bible so let’s see what the Word of God and Jesus have to say about saints, sainthood and being holier then others.
The Old Testament has many references to saints. Moses and the prophets as well as the Psalms mention saints but in a generic general sense and not to one person or group of peoples in particular. The New Testament refers to saints as those who believe in Jesus Christ. Interestingly, Jesus never used the term saint in any of the recorded gospels.
Jesus did, however, have much to say about righteousness and position in the kingdom of God.
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4
When James and John request places of honor at the Lords side in heaven Jesus answered them –
Mark chapter 10 vss 37-45
37 “We want to sit on the thrones next to yours in your Kingdom,” they said, “one at your right and the other at your left!”
38 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I must drink from? Or to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
39 “Oh, yes,” they said, “we are!”
And Jesus said, “You shall indeed drink from my cup and be baptized with my baptism, 40 but I do not have the right to place you on thrones next to mine. Those appointments have already been made.”
41 When the other disciples discovered what James and John had asked, they were very indignant. 42 So Jesus called them to him and said, “As you know, the kings and great men of the earth lord it over the people; 43 but among you it is different. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. 44 And whoever wants to be greatest of all must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Messiah,[a] am not here to be served, but to help others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.
So, we see that the Word of God defines Saints as believers in Jesus Christ who exercise childlike faith and humility while being a servant to others and whose righteousness exceeds that of the Old Testament scribes and Pharisees
A tall order? No, not when you consider the truth that with the help of our Lord we can do anything and that as believers we are cleansed of all unrighteousness by the blood of the Lamb. We are made to sit in high places because we are heirs to His righteousness. As such we are all Saints. As for Patrick or any of the other officially recognized “Saints” I can not speak. Just as no one can speak accurately about anyone’s relationship with Christ.
What I am attempting to get across on this Saint Patrick’s Day is that we, believers in Jesus, are all Saints and as such we should act accordingly –
With childlike love and faith in service to others and the knowledge of Gods Word in our hearts and minds ever ready to give an account of the joy we hold so dear – Jesus is Lord and He is Alive!!
Thanks for stopping by and be blessed, Al
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