Patrick renewed his faith in the Lord in the midst of dire, woeful circumstances. Only 16 years old, he was a slave in Ireland, watching sheep day and night, alone. Yet, as the apostle Paul might say, “But God…” Today’s excerpt from Patrick: A Devotional History is found on pages 24 and 25:
“Patrick would have agreed with Paul. He would have seen himself as a chief of sinners, justly deserving whatever judgment God imposed on him. The same is true for us. Before we knew the Lord—before, that is, He overwhelmed us, invaded us, and transformed us by His grace—we were His enemies, content to follow our puny, pernicious ways apart from any perceived need of God.
“But just as God came to each of us, so He came to Patrick. He did not abandon His child to perpetual slavery among the Irish. Rather, he used this affliction to shake Patrick to his soul and awaken the seed of the Gospel to full and abundant life.
“Just as He has done with us. We have so much in common with Patrick! And I pray that, as we continue through this study, we’ll discover additional ways that, as God worked in and through Patrick, so He has—or can—work in and through us. We do not fear the judgment of the Lord because we know that God made Jesus to be sin for us, that we, in Him, might be made the righteousness of God.
“Patrick’s woeful beginnings became wonderful blessings for the Irish people. May his life and ministry do as much for us as well.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Before you became a Christian, how was it clear that you were an “enemy” of God?
2. How many different ways can you see that God’s grace has worked to make you His dear child?
Only grace can bring us to the Lord, only grace can keep us in the Lord, and only grace can change our woeful condition to bring us into the wonderful Presence and glory of God. What blessing God has bestowed on us for Jesus’ sake! And what wonderful work He has for us to do as agents of His grace! Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to talk about how you see God working in your life today. Your copy of our 30-day devotional, Patrick: A Devotional History is waiting for you at The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
