Glory! Glory! And Glory!

If I were writing a letter to former church members as Paul did to so many of those he touched with his ministry, it is likely that I would have said something like "Dear Friends,"  but the Apostle had a different view.  "To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae," he wrote.  Most of us are afraid of that word, "saint."  We do not have so much trouble applying it to some of the old timers who were spiritual giants for us, but we do have trouble using it to speak of ourselves.  However, if we take the Scripture seriously, it is our name.  It describes us.   

When we say "Yes" to Jesus, a true work of grace takes place in our life.  In another place and to another church the Apostle wrote about this mysterious work of the Spirit, "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new."  (II Corinthians 5:17)  With that simple word of faith on our part to what God has already done for us in Christ, a person who never existed suddenly stands in view for all the world to see.  None of us are the same when we accept Christ.  The Spirit works in our heart to make us a new creation, someone who has reclaimed that sacred identity given at conception, but somehow covered up and forgotten by a multitude of wrong choices that expressed our desire to take control of our life instead of living it in submission to God's will.     

In that moment of holy mystery, we become sinner changed by grace and one of the saints of God.  Glory!!  Our identity changes.  "But, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people...you were not a people, but now you are God's people."  (I Peter 2:9-10)  This is who we are. This is whom Christ has made us.   Glory! Glory!  And, Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!"