From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17
“The Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And He watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and He protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son. Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favors and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing Him, our way to repay Him is to exalt Him and confess His wonders before every nation under heaven.
For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the Spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by Him. He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave Him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds.”
Patrick of Ireland (387-461) in his own words in “Confession of St. Patrick” 2-4.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from sunny Phoenix, Arizona!
Take five minutes on this special day to reflect on the many “favors and graces” you have received in Jesus Christ, and give thanks to God! Make a list on a piece of paper and time yourself.
I pray that your heart is not only filled with gratitude like Patrick, but also that you are inspired to live on mission for God as he did. Close your solitude time by asking God to show you someone today to whom you can extend God’s favor and grace.
God worked through Patrick to change his world, and I pray God works through you to change yours for His glory! Resolve to dispense generously the infinite and matchless grace of God!