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James 1:22 says, “ Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves.” Each Friday we’ll look at one way your family can apply God’s Word, doing what it says as you walk through life this weekend (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
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March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. (For a brief video history about Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day, click here.) This holiday is named for a man with quite a story to tell. Patrick (who was born with a different name) was kidnapped as a child and taken to live among a strange group of people. He had to learn a new language as he worked there. While he was a slave, he came to trust Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He began to pray a lot every day. Eventually, he escaped and made it back home. He studied to be a priest (or pastor) and became a leader in the church.
One day he had a dream. In his dream, the people who lived where he’d been a slave asked him to come back. Patrick wanted to follow God, even if it was difficult, so he decided to go back and tell the people in Ireland about Jesus. It wasn’t easy since the people there believed other things and didn’t always understand or want to hear what the Bible said. Patrick didn’t give up. He kept trying to explain what the Bible said. He followed Jesus’ example and used things around him to help explain the things of God.
What things might you see in the next week that you could use to help tell people about Jesus or what the Bible says? Let’s look at a few things to get you started thinking.
- The shamrock is a picture of the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See a further explanation here.)
- The color green is often used as a picture for life. In what ways does the Bible talk about life or “new life”? (Try Ephesians 2:5.)
- In some places, people are pinched if they do not wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. Think about what you just said about the color green. In what way might this pinching tradition be a picture of what the Bible teaches? (Revelation 20:15)
- What did God promise when the first rainbow appeared in the sky? Do you remember? Refresh your memory in Genesis 9:8-17. You might even want to back up and read all of Genesis 6-9.
- What other ways can you think of to tell people about Jesus or what the Bible says using things you might see on St. Patrick’s Day?
Challenge your family members to tell one person about Jesus or the Bible this St. Patrick’s Day. If your parents allow it, leave a comment to tell us about what you said.
Related Posts:
- How to Write an Irish Blessing
- What Does Trinity Mean (and How Could a Shamrock Help Explain It)?
- Which Rainbow Are You Chasing?
This blog is part of a Titus 2 Tuesdays Linkup Party.
