And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

   - Hosea 1.10

So this is why it come about in Ireland that people who had no acquaintance with God, but who, up to now, always had cults or idols and abominations, are recently – by this dispensation – made a people of the Lord and are known as children of God.

  - Patrick, Confession, Irish, 5th century

Patrick had just quoted the verse in Hosea when he wrote what we have above. God had done a wonderful thing among heathen, wild, dangerous, ignorant, scruffy, unclean, pagan people. He had used the simple preaching of the Gospel, coupled with a life of service and sacrifice, to create a new people out of an old one – children of God out of the consorts of demons.

Does God still do such things today?

Know any pagans, any folk who have no acquaintance with God? Any people caught up in various forms of idolatry and other abominable practices? Do you believe the Gospel is the power of God for their salvation? Patrick did, and he staked everything on that promise as he left the security of home and family, even against the advice of his church, to return to the land of his captivity and bring the Gospel to the pitiful pagans of Ireland.

I feel like Elisha: “Where is the spirit of Patrick?” I get the impression that we don’t believe the Gospel the same way Patrick believed it, that it really is powerful, really can convert, really can transform a people and its culture, and that in a relatively short space of time.

If we did believe the Gospel in this way, would we not see more evidence of its power at work among the members of the Body of Christ? And wouldn’t we be more fervent, consistent, and effective in sharing our faith with others?

Patrick came to his trust in the Gospel the hard way. Let us pray that God will revive us while we are yet free, before He leads us into a captivity like Israel’s – or Patrick’s – from which we will only be released after many painful years of learning the power of God the hard way.

Now is day of salvation, and the Gospel is the power of God for it.

Psalm 107.1-3 (Faithfulness: “Great is Thy Faithfulness”)
Lord, You are good, we give thanks and we praise You!
Your steadfast love will forever endure.
Let the redeemed, who from trouble You rescue,
Gather and say that Your mercy is sure!
   Lord, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love
  We give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
  We who from east and west, north and south gather,
   Boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

Make me bold to believe and proclaim the Good News about Jesus, Lord. I do believe – help my unbelief!