You Mean I Have to Love THAT Saint?

 

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in

Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,”

Colossians 1:3-4 

 

Here’s that pesky question yet again -

Do you have love for all the saints?

Maybe it’s not such a simple question after all!

It’s much easier to just answer yes but always a little tougher – no make that – a lot tougher to actually do it.

Here’s something I’ve discovered along the way and you would probably say “Me too”:

Among all the saints are some people who hold very different views on any number of topics than you do...

Well imagine that!

When you consider them, do you still have love for all the saints?

Among all the saints are some people who come from a significantly different culture...

Well imagine that!

When you consider those people you know, remember now it’s believers I’m speaking of, whose cultural traditions may be quite different from yours, tell me - do you still have love for all the saints?

Follow me now on this next one -

Also among all the saints are some people who may have hurt or offended you...

Ouch, well imagine that!

Sometimes saints can be so easily offended.

So, when you consider those ‘saints’ who have hurt or offended you,

can you still have love for all those saints?

See, I warned you this might not be such an open and shut question to consider!

In answering the question it might be helpful to consider Jesus.

In particular these words taken from Romans chapter 5 and verse 8:

“...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Or how about Hebrews 12:3 – Let me read that to you from the English Standard Version –

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

So, while we were dirty rotten scoundrels in the presence of a holy, perfect, loving God, He sent His Son to die for us.

“...while we were yet sinners...”

You and me were in that group of ‘yet sinners’ but now we are part of ‘all the saints’.

How exactly did that happen?

Must have been amazing grace!

So, even after considering the grace that has been freely and lavishly applied to your life let me ask you one last time –

Do you have love for all the saints?

That is, for those offending, hurtful, culturally unlike and different point of view kind of saints?

Those are the saints I’m talking about!

Those are the saints we are commanded to love.

Those who were also ‘yet sinners’ like you and me.