October 31, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, October 31.
Tomorrow, November 1, is All Saints Day. That's not a holiday that we observe in the Baptist church, but our friends in the Methodist church do, along with many others. It's a moment to remember those who've gone before us and to acknowledge the bond that we share with them. The writer of Hebrews famously put it like this (12:1) - Since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
The legendary scientist Isaac Newton put it another way - "If I have seen farther, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants". Is there someone in your past whose shoulders you are standing on today? I'm confident that there is, and probably more than one. Take a moment to remember them and to thank God for these "saints".
Oh, and by the way, the old form of that word saints was "hallows". And so, in ancient times, All Saints Day was called All Hallows Day. And the day before - October 31 - was called All Hallows Eve - which, over time, became Halloween.
Have a safe Halloween and a blessed All Saints Day.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
