Worship Devotional XCV

Oct 30

Originally posted to the Facebook group on 10/30/2021.

Worship Devotional for 10/31/21

~ All Saints' Day / Hallowtide ~

"Hallowtide" refers to a sequence of holidays beginning with Halloween. Most people know about Halloween on October 31, but the other holidays which follow are All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2. Hallowtide can also include the first Sunday of November, which is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The word Halloween means "All Hallows' Eve," which is the evening before "All Hallows' Day" or "All Saints' Day." All Saints' Day became an official holiday observed on November 1st after Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in Rome to honor all saints, but festivals and celebrations had been held by Christians in honor of the saints and martyrs well before then, though usually observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Many historians suspect that the holiday was changed to November 1st to become a Christian substitute for the Celtic Festival of the Dead known as Samhain, which is where many of the myths and superstitions that are associated with Halloween originated. The Celts observed this day to mark the end of the harvest season and to usher in the dark winter, and they believed that the veil between the dead and the living grew thin on this day, and that the souls of the dead and other dark spiritual things would come and visit the living.

During this same three-day period, the Day of the Dead festival is observed in Mexico and other Latino cultures. This holiday is not directly connected to Halloween or to the ancient Celtic festivals, but it bears some striking similarities. During this celebration, people remember and pray for the dead, specifically for their deceased loved ones. So, at this time of year throughout the world and throughout modern history, people have held festivals and celebrations to remember the dead and to consider the afterlife.

With all this in mind, we can see that Halloween is more than just candy and costumes. At the heart of it lie deep questions and topics for consideration, such as matters of life and death and what happens after we die. Whether or not you participate in the community festivities, there is a purpose for us — the church — in this season. Halloween is a time when people all over the world are dealing with fear of the unknown, life and death and the afterlife, good and evil, light and darkness. This presents us with special opportunities to boldly share the gospel!

We as believers in Christ Jesus have been freely given what world is searching for in all the wrong places. We have the truth while the world holds onto deception and superstition. We have the Holy Spirit while the world fears ghosts and evil spirits. We have the light while the world celebrates the darkness. We worship the true and living God while the world wastes away in idolatry. We hold fast to what is good while the world succumbs to evil. We have come to know the Creator of all things and the Judge of the living and the dead, who is in control of what happens after we die. We no longer have to fear the unknown, because out eternal future has been secured by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, who rescued us from the eternal judgment and condemnation in hell which we deserved because of our sins. Now is the time for the saints to declare the truth in love and to shine with the light of the gospel in this dark world.

The word "hallow" means "to honor as holy." The word "saint" means "one who is regarded as holy." We are called as saints in Christ, for through Him we have been reconciled to the Father and have become children of the true and holy God. The Holy Spirit now lives in us and is sanctifying us through and through, so that we may stand before our God and Savior and Lord and King in the end having been made pure and blameless before Him, worthy of eternal life not by anything we've done, but by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. This grace is offered to all who will believe, and we the church — the saints — have been called to carry this message to the ends of the earth, so that a lost and broken and dark and dying world might see the light of Christ in us, repent, and be saved. May we learn more and more by the power of the Holy Spirit how we might declare the good news with both our words and actions.

Hebrews 9:27-28:

"And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him."

1 Peter 1:13-17:

"Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

Hebrews 12:14:

"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord."

Exodus 15:11-13:

"Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. You will lead the people You have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength."

1 Samuel 2:2: