Who is the real St. Patrick??
Born in the early years of the 5th century in Britain, he grew up in a spiritually grounded family. His dad was an elder in the local church, and his grandpa was a priest. According to his own writings, he was not an active Christian. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and made a slave in Ireland. It was during this time in captivity that he put his faith in Jesus and his Christianity became real! He spent 6 years as a slave, until he “heard a voice” telling him that he was about to go home. He escaped his captors and made it back to his homeland. Back in Britain, he continued to study God’s Word and increase his faith in God. It was in this time that the Lord spoke to Patrick that he was to return to Ireland, and bring Christianity to the people. He planted churches, baptized thousands, and according to his own writing, “Never before did they know of God except to serve idols and unclean things. But now, they have become the people of the Lord, and are called children of God. The sons and daughters of the leaders of the Irish are seen to be monks and virgins of Christ!”
All this didn’t happen with ease. His life was threatened on many occasions, he was beaten up, and also served 60 days in jail for an unknown reason. In all, Patrick was once lost as a slave and was found in Christ. He used his new found freedom for a greater purpose to bring thousands of people to an understanding of Jesus, and brought Christianity to an entire country!
But what about the legend of his ‘tale’?
- 3 Leaf Clover: attributed that Patrick used the leaf to explain the Trinity to the people of Ireland. No documented proof of this.
- Driving the snakes out of Ireland. No proof that snakes existed in Ireland at the time. May be an allegorical tale of Patrick driving paganism out of the country.
- The Color Green: associated with the Roman Catholic Church and Ireland folklore of protecting yourself from leprechauns. In actuality, you should wear Orange today because that is the color primarily associated with Protestant Christianity in Ireland.
Are you allowing your circumstances to determine your outlook on life?
What if God is allowing you to experience certain hardships that will later be used to advance His kingdom here on Earth? What is your initial response to the hard things in life? All of us will look inward. It’s what we find on the inside that will determine our response to our circumstances.
1. We must understand that we are sinners (Romans 3:23, 6:23). St. Patrick stated, “I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many...” Paul stated in 1 Timothy 1:15, “...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
2. We realize that we need a Savior. Luke 19:10 tells us that Jesus came to “seek and save the lost”. St. Patrick realized this in his slavery, “And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief.” God used his slavery to bring awareness of his need for salvation. Paul’s salvation came on the road to Damascus, as he was on his way to persecute Christians (Acts 9).
3. We surrender our lives to Christ. Jesus sets us free from sin. “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7) We become slaves to righteousness. “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)
4. We follow Him in obedience to what He wants us to do. Sometimes, we have to do hard things, or go through hard things. Realizing that every situation or circumstance in life is meant for a reason. Whether we experience those hardships in obedience or disobedience, we learn that we rely on our Savior that his grace sustain us and use or life for His glory. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” Philippians 2:5-11 declares, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Like the testimony of St. Patrick, Paul the Apostle, and many others, may our lives be a testament to the faithfulness of God, through Jesus Christ, who saved us for a greater purpose. “Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.” (St. Patrick)
The Prayer of St. Patrick
Christ, be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Christ. May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
