Morning

Called to be saints.

-Romans i 7

We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were "saints" in a more especial manner than the other children of God. All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace, and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostels as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves....

The fact is, if we had seen the apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family... He is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence that will almost make us idolaters. Their holiness is attainable even by us. We are "called to be saints" by the same voice which constrained them to their high vocation... We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equaled them in heavenly character?... Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, "looking unto Jesus," and out saintship will soon be apparent.

-C.H. Spurgeon