What's With All The Green?

Happy March everyone!
Man, is this month flying by or what? Feels like it was just January.

Well, with March comes a very special holiday that, to honest, not very many people know much about.

That's right! If you couldn't guess by the post's title and the picture of shamrocks, I'm talking about Saint Patrick's Day!


As I was trying to prepare a simple and sweet devotion for my church's ladies group tonight, I kept trying to think of a way top tie St. Patrick's day in with the lesson. I was thinking, "hmm...pots of gold could be treasures, possibly earthly vs heavenly. I could talking about 'luck' and whether or not a Christian should believe in luck." All good ideas, but not exactly what I was looking for.

So, I decided to ask around. "What is Saint Patrick's Day"

I got various answers, but her were the top 3

1. A day when you wear green so you don't get pinched
2. A day wear you eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer
3. Something Irish

The more I though about it, the more curious I become. Why am I celebrating something, if I don't know what it is.

So, my research began.

And here is what I found:
           
                 "At about the age of 16, Patrick, a Scottish young man born into wealth sometime in the late fourth century, most likely around 385, was violently captured by Irish raiders and forced into a life of slavery. Patrick later escaped and was reunited with his family, but in a dream, felt called by God back to Ireland to spread Christianity to the people of that isle. So this godly young man set about to make this dream come true. He prayed for God's strength and then studied scripture to ready himself. Then He was prepared to return to the land of his captivity. He preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country until his death on March 17, 461. For the modern day Irish, St. Patrick's Day is considered a time for spiritual renewal as they fondly remember the slave-turned-evangelist who spread Christianity to the Emerald Isle." (http://social.popsugar.com/Interesting-Story-About-St-Patrick-1123058)

Ok, so it is something religious. Great.

But... the more I began to read and study, the more God began to reveal deeper truth to me. He was saying, "Racheal, that's and example of what I did for YOU."

Huh? But God, I didn't kidnap no one? What do you mean that's an example of us?

Well, you can bet Patrick wasn't friends with the Irish. (Who would be?) I would even go as far to say he was probably more like enemies with them. Yet, he cared about them and wanted to share with them the truth of who God was.

And take a look at Romans 5:8, 
               "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

"While we were yet sinners", while we were yet enemies of God...Christ died for us.

While we were mocking God, while we were denying God, while we were blaspheming God, while we were spitting in God's face, while we were point our fingers at God saying "I don't need You in my life, "wile we were yet sinners"...Christ cared about our spiritual state...and died for us. (US... you, me, your neighbors, your coworkers, your friends, your family, Saint Patrick, and the people of Ireland.)

Imagine if Saint Patrick had told God, "No way! I'm not going back there! Those people enslaved me! They don't deserve to hear about Your love"
He wouldn't have fullfilled his purpose, and God most likely would have sent someone else to do the job.

But...Imagine if Jesus told God, "No way! I'm not going to earth to die a painful death on a cross! Those people curse Me! Those people take My name in vain and those people are going to spit on Me! They don't deserve my blood or the salvation I have to offer!"

Kinda puts it in a different light, doesn't it?

Is God calling you to speak to someone about Him and you feel like you shouldn't because of how they treated you in the past? or are still treating you in the future?

As Saint Patrick's Day approaching, have fun wearing the green, eating the food, and fellow-shipping with loved ones. But I also hope you take time out to remember the lesson given to use by Saint Patrick and his ministry to the people of Ireland, and apply it to your life and the people you come across on a daily basis. Be it coworkers, classmates, friends, family, or even people in the grocery store.

Just remember, someone once gave you a chance to learn of Christ. Who are you to keep your mouth shut about Him to someone else? You may be that person's only shot at eternal life.


Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3

PS. Just a cool tip bit of information. The shamrock is asscoiated with Saint Patrick's day, because the shamrock is part of the Irish culture and it is the object used by Saint Patrick himself to teach the Irish people the basics of the concept of the Trinity. 3 in 1...Father, Spirit, Son. 3 petals, 1 leaf. :)