Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Matthew 28:18-20

 March 17

"Jesus came and told his disciples,"...Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Fortunately, Jesus' command to "make disciples of all the nations" has been taken seriously. One of his disciples born in Roman Britain in the fifth century was named Patrick. Today we celebrate "Saint Patrick's Day" in honor of this courageous man who became Ireland's first Christian bishop after bringing the faith to pagan Ireland. Much of what we know about him comes from his book, the Declaration, which says he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century to a wealthy Christian Roman-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather a priest. At sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped by pagan Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. He spent six years there as a shepherd. During this time he had a powerful experience of the Lord. The Declaration says God told him to escape to the seacoast where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After escaping, Patrick studied in Britain to become a priest and later returned to Ireland. He converted thousands of Irish to Christianity while courageously exposing darker aspects of the pagan Druid religion by example, reason, and miraculous wonders. After facing death many times for his faith, he finally died on March 17 and is buried in Downpatrick, Ireland. His courageous work remains along with his famous Irish Blessing:

"May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Prayer: God, Thank you for the courage of Patrick. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Jesus is always with you even as he was with St. Patrick!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)