"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 4 November 2016 with Scripture Luke 6:20-26

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 4 November 2016 with Scripture Luke 6:20-26

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Luke 6:20 He looked at his talmidim and said:
“How blessed are you poor!
    for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 “How blessed are you who are hungry!
    for you will be filled.
“How blessed are you who are crying now!
    for you will laugh.
22 “How blessed you are whenever people hate you and ostracize you and insult you and denounce you as a criminal on account of the Son of Man. 23 Be glad when that happens; yes, dance for joy! because in heaven your reward is great. For that is just how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already had all the comfort you will get!
25 “Woe to you who are full now,
    for you will go hungry!
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
    for you will mourn and cry!
26 “Woe to you when people speak well of you, for that is just how their fathers treated the false prophets![Complete Jewish Bible]
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With many churches celebrating All Saints this Sunday, what makes you call someone a saint? What kind of characteristics do saints have? Are they selfless, gentle, patient? Are they able to follow the golden rule at least most of the time? We tend to lift up what people do as the reason they are saints. We commemorate the saints who start hospitals, spread the gospel to far-reaching places, feed the hungry, or care for orphans. These are all very good works. But the only reason we are saints is because we have set our hope on Christ. The only claim we have on the inheritance God has for us is the one who went to the cross where he could do nothing but offer the other cheek again and again.
Do not feel small in the presence of the "saintly" ones around you. The fullness of Christ is within you just as you are, dear, beloved saint!
The standard is so high, God. I can't get there by myself. Thank you that Christ did what we could not. Help me lean into your grace and mold my life to reflect it to others. Amen.
Amanda Kempthorne, '09
Pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, North Pole, Ala. 
Luke 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.[New Revised Standard Version]
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