God speaks this week through these scriptures:

Revelation 7:9-17 – The multitudes of heaven worship the Lamb
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 – Fear the LORD, you saints of the LORD; for those who fear the LORD lack nothing.
1 John 3:1-3 – We are God’s children
Matthew 5:1-12 – Blessed are the poor in spirit

In Revelation, the writer gives the faithful the assurance of God’s protection and a vision of victory – meaning to comfort Christians who mourn their dead and to inspire trust that God will bring joy out of sorrow.

In 1 John, the writer expresses our trust that at the end, we will see God, who has set us apart as His children and who loves us. As children, we will see the Father as He really is; unknown by the world, we are known by God.

In Matthew, the Beatitudes describe a surprising grouping of persons who find their wholeness in blessings from God, rather than in the values of this world. They proclaim trust that God will bring about salvation, despite appearances.

On All Saints Day, we thank God for all the baptized, both the famous and the forgotten, both those who lived in the past and those around us today. Set your clocks back and join us for worship, to gather at Jesus’ feet and to receive his words of blessing.

–from SundaysAndSeasons.com and Gail Ramshaw–