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March
2011
St. Patrick Wasn't
Irish!!!
The story of St.
Patrick is actually pretty cool! Check it out...
At the age of
16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish
raiders who were attacking his family's estate (he came from a wealthy
family,
had lots of cash!) in Britain. They took him to Ireland where he spent
6 years
in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and
away from
people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to God for peace, becoming a
devout
Christian.
After more than six
years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. Patrick walked
nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick
believed that God was calling him to return to Ireland as a missionary.
So
Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more
than
fifteen years. He then went to Ireland with two things in
mind... minister to Christians already living in Ireland and
try to
convert the Irish to Christianity.
Patrick spent his
life ministering to those who captured him
and did wrong to him and his family. Imagine getting kidnapped
by
thugs from a foreign country, being held prisoner for over 6
years, and
then escaping that country... only to go back and minister to the
people there!
The story of St. Patrick is a great story that illustrates loving your
enemies.
Jesus
tells us in Matthew 5... love your enemies. No matter
who your enemies are and no matter what they have done to become your
enemies... Jesus tells you, as His follower, to love them. Who
are your
enemies? How can you show love to them?
Through
His Son Jesus, God calls you to be a missionary... to your enemies.
Will you accept His mission?
-Chris
"Come
and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's
behalf!"
Psalm 66:5
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