Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today millions of people will wear (or drink) something green to in honor of St. Patrick's Day. But very few will know much about the real man behind the party. It's a shame--because although the real Patrick never chased snakes out of Ireland (there weren't any there to begin with) he was an amazing man.

One of the most surprising things about Patrick is that he wasn't Irish. He was British. Given the fact that there is no love lost between the Brits and Irish that's ironic isn't!

Patrick was around 390 AD to an aristocratic Christian family with a townhouse, a country villa, and plenty of slaves. His given name was Patricus. Patrick professed no interest in Christianity as a young boy.

At 16, his world was turned upside down when marauders from Ireland kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. This privedged young man was suddenly tending sheep as a slave in the chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland. It was during those lonely years that Patrick had a series of visions and gave his life to Christ.

After 7 years he managed to escape and find passage back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family. Patrick could have lived out the rest of his life in luxury. But he heard his own version of the Macedonian call. (Acts 16:9)

God sent Patrick to carry the good news of God's grace to his kidnappers and former masters. Patrick's work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors. He experienced tremendous spiritual warfare has he took on the demonic forces behind the the druid priests. But he never gave up.

St. Patrick had the heart of an evangelist--he loved the people of Ireland and longed for them to have eternal life in Christ.

On this St. Patrick's day I pray that God will fill us with the same tenacious love and forgiveness that motivated Patrick.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!