Saint Patrick’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religion celebration held annually on March 17 to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland. It’s become more so a day to celebrate Irish Culture than the religious aspect of it. Which is good I think, being that I don’t really put much stock in honoring saints. Not to belittle what St. Patrick did, being credited to have been instrumental in establishing the Christian faith in Ireland in the 5th Century, but in the eyes of God saint hood is not exclusive to one religion. For the record, I’m Saint Shari. I really don’t anticipate any statues being erected in my honor, and it is not the honor of men that I seek. But studying God’s ideology of saints differs considerably from the worlds view.
Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:7 ~ To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
A saint is a child of God. Not a perfect child of God, not an overachieving child of God, not anyone necessarily of notable character. Many saints don’t deserve a statue. (I am one). The Catholic church has sainted many folks throughout the years and claim Peter was the first Pope, which I don’t believe for many reasons, but top of my list for not believing it is, in knowing the character of Peter, he would have had nothing to do with a religion that focus’ on the mother of Christ rather than the Savior and believes salvation can be bought. But this blog is not about my differences with the Catholic Church, it’s about the prerequisites for being a Saint and the reward!
King David spoke much of the saints of God especially in the Psalms:
But I would call Psalm 149 a Psalm of the Saints
Each verse brings great hope to the child of God for
149:1
All Saints! The Congregation, not just a select few.
1Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
All Creation! Not just a few
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
All People! Who are saved
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
All Saints have honor!
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.
What a joy to know! As a believer in Christ Jesus, believing that He was the final sacrifice for mankind on the cross of Calvary, that He proved his Deity by His power over death, His resurrection and His ascension to Heaven where He makes intercession for us, allowing us access to a Holy God, even as unholy as we are, and because of all His work, we have honor.
There will be no statues of us in Heaven, I don’t know that they’ll be any statues in Heaven. I just know that Jesus is in Heaven and it is He Who I will give praise, honor and glory. And so will the saints who have been honored on earth, and those who haven’t even been recognized.
Feeling unappreciated today? Don’t. There is One Who appreciates you more than you can possibly know.