Saint Patrick's Day is tomorrow and that means shamrocks, green beer, parades and leprechauns all in celebration of...wait...what? Is it the celebration of the little short guy with the red beard and funny hat, the Irish heritage or just the color green? I'm not sure-any excuse for a party, right? Well, like most holidays today, the meaning and significance of St. Patrick's Day has been lost to commercialism and pleasure seeking. But there is an appropriate Christian response to this "holiday". Let's start with some history.

Patrick never drove a single snake out of Ireland, he wasn't really a "Saint", and he wasn't even Irish. But in spite of all the folklore and misconceptions, the story of Patrick's life reflects the grace and mercy of God. At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped from Scotland by Irish raiders and sold into slavery to tend sheep for his master. The son of the town tax collector who grew up in security and comfort was now alone and destitute, left only with memories of his previous life and the truths of his parent’s faith that he had once only amicably tolerated. But the love of God had the last word and his father's faith became his own.

Patrick lived as a slave for 6 years before he escaped at the beckoning of a dream. One would have expected his heart to be bitter and vengeful but the grace of God in his life had the opposite effect. He lived with an awareness of his own sinfulness and was unusually grateful for the undeserved mercy that he had received from his Savior. Instead of vengeance, he wanted those who had enslaved him to experience the same mercy and grace.

At the age of 40, Patrick returned to Ireland with a message for his previous masters that would set them free; the message of Jesus Christ. He would make several missionary journeys back to Ireland and was a major contributor in converting a nation steeped in paganism to the grace of Jesus Christ. He never drove a single reptile out of Ireland. Instead He introduced them to the One who would crush the head of the serpent.

We can celebrate St. Patrick's Day by glorying in the faithfulness of our God throughout history, remembering and rejoicing in the grace of God in our lives and praying for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. Like Paul, let's pray and commit that we would be about "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
(Acts 28:31)

Here are a few suggestions for celebrating St. Patrick's Day (feel free to add more ideas in the comments):

1. Remember and thank God again for His amazing grace and mercy in your life. Praise Him for the Gospel.
2. Pray for family members and friends who have yet to experience saving grace.
3. Like Patrick, remember our enemies. Pray for their Salvation.
4. Repent of bitterness and vengeance and ask Him to replace the heart of stone with His heart for the lost.
5. Pray that we would have His eyes-seeing opportunities for the gospel in situations that are unpleasant and difficult.
6. Pray for the spread of the gospel around the world and those who are taking it.