Spread

God uses individual Christians and the Church as a whole to present a powerful witness to the world about His love, grace, and faithfulness. And, through the obedience of each and every Christian, the work of God is carried out throughout the earth. We can read this in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2:
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Keith Getty, in an article published several years ago at Baptist Press, discussed the album that he and wife, Kristyn, had recorded called, Confessio, the title of which, as the article notes, "is a reference to a written work by Ireland’s Saint Patrick."  During the COVID pandemic, the Getty family spent an extended period of time in Northern Ireland, which is where Keith and Kristyn are from.  The article states:

Keith said the album was heavily influenced by his family’s time in the Ireland, where the couple had the opportunity to travel around teaching their children about their family heritage, as well as the way Christianity has been spread around the world from the country.

“I was honestly overwhelmed with going back to Ireland and realizing that in 17 centuries of Christianity since Saint Patrick came, just how Christianity has gone around the world from that country,” Getty said. “There is also a very emotional desire that my own children will know something of the heritage of their faith, and the great hymns of our faith.”

Certainly, the legacy of St. Patrick has not been forgotten, in that there is a day that has been named in his honor. While some St. Patrick's Day revelry does not strike a Christian or even reverent tone, we, as believers, can reflect on this man's contribution to the spread of the gospel.

Paul Batura wrote a piece a while back at The Daily Citizen from Focus on the Family.  He related some lessons that can be learned from the life and ministry of Patrick.  One is that "Good things come from tragedy."  Batura writes:

When he was just sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold into slavery. He worked for six years herding sheep in horrible conditions. He was often cold, isolated and alone.

How did he handle his fate? Accord to Patrick himself, he prayed up to one hundred times during the day and another hundred times at night. He reported that an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him, “You have fasted well. Very soon you will return to your native country.”

Nobody likes to be in exile. Perhaps you’re struggling during this season of your life and you’re somewhere you don’t want to be. Just remember how Patrick’s prayer life exploded during his captivity and how yours might also as you plead with the Lord to help you.

Another is "It’s never too late to pursue your calling."  The writer notes that Patrick walked over 200 miles back home to Britain after he was in slavery. He spent an astounding 15 years in seminary and went into the ministry at the tender age of - 46.  Then he returned to Ireland to preach the gospel.

Patrick also spoke truth to power, and Batura notes that another lesson from Patrick's life is that "Righteous anger is healthy and consistent with the Christian faith."  Batura writes:

Long settled in Ireland, Patrick wrote a scathing letter to a British tyrant named Coroticus and lambasted him and others for murdering and kidnapping Christian converts. Along with his autobiography, it’s one of just two remaining pieces of literature from Patrick.

Patrick called Coroticus to repentance. 

That autobiography is called, Confessio, to which I referred earlier, which the Gettys named that album inspired by their Irish retreat during the pandemic. You can actually find it at the website, Confessio.ie.  He starts by saying, "My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many." He wrote that he totally surrendered to God while in Ireland in captivity.  He wrote, "He guarded me before I knew him, and before I came to wisdom and could distinguish between good and evil. He protected me and consoled me as a father does for his son." He adds, "That is why I cannot be silent."

St. Patrick, whose life we observe on this day, is someone who can serve as an example. He faced trials, yet He came to know the God who showed Himself to be great in the midst of those troubles. He pursued God and devoted himself to evangelism as a middle-aged man.  And, he spoke out against injustice against fellow Christians, even calling a fierce leader to repentance.  

We can always learn something by observing people who know Christ and have allowed Him to live through them.  We can also consider what God has done in our lives - St. Patrick wrote his Confessio.  If you were to write such a document, what would it say?  What story has the Lord produced through your life?  None of us are called into a life of insignificance - God has placed a tremendous call on each of our lives.