Romans 10:14-17/ A Slave in Ireland, Sent for the Gospel

Romans 10:14-17/ A Slave in Ireland, Sent for the Gospel

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Many people celebrated St. Paddy's Day yesterday with corned beef and cabbage, green-clad clothing, Guinness beer, Reuben sandwiches, and other festive traditions we've come to associate with the global holiday. For God's people, a quick snapshot of Saint Patrick's life can leave us rejoicing along with angels (Luke 15:7,10) that he brought the Gospel to Ireland!

Patrick was kidnapped from Northeast England at only 16 years of age. The next 6 years of his life were spent as a slave in Ireland where he would eventually believe the Gospel that he heard as a child. After escaping slavery, he studied for and committed to vocational ministry in which he would serve for about 20 years.

Here's where Romans 10:14-17 comes in: Patrick, at age 48, felt called by God to return to Ireland with the Gospel. And he was faithful to answer this call. The former slave in Ireland returned to island a slave to Christ.

The simple and profound logic of Romans 10:14-17 has surely moved many men and women to places where the Gospel has not yet been. After all, how would the Irish call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can the Irish believe if they've never heard? And how could the Irish hear if no one preached? And how could Patrick preach unless he was sent? The heavens erupted as God moved powerfully by His Word on an island of people described as uncivilized barbarians at the time.

Today, Christianity is the largest religion in Ireland. God-- through Patrick in the 5th century-- delivered many in Ireland from 1000 years of "Celtic paganism," which included human sacrifice in some sects.

I suspect that Patrick would be bored to death with green beers, clover leaves, and folklore about leprechauns. He lived for Jesus. And He had seen the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, even his barbaric former masters in Ireland.

Because of that, I would submit that Patrick's life is worth celebrating often in hopes that we too would feel emboldened to share the Gospel with people in our context today.

Humbly,

Pastor Kevin