Life on the Pasture

Every day (seemingly every hour) is bringing new developments with the COVID-19 outbreak. This afternoon, Governor Evers has ordered the closing of restaurants and bars, as well as banning public gatherings of more than ten people to slow down the spread of the virus. All our worship services will now be offered online (visit our media page). All other activities including Bible studies are cancelled until further notice. We live in interesting times. Yet God is in control. As the psalmist says, “My times are in Your hands.” (Psalm 31:15)

Did you remember that today is St. Patrick’s Day? While many think about wearing green, parties, and possibly whiskey and green beer, Patrick’s life story is good for us to remember as we go through this challenging time. According to Ted Olsen,, writing for Christianity Today, “Patrick was 16 years old in about the year 405, when he was captured in a raid and became a slave in what was still radically pagan Ireland. Far from home, he clung to the religion he had ignored as a teenager… He spent his six years of bondage mainly in prayer. He escaped at the suggestion of a dream and returned home. Patrick was in his mid-40s when he returned to Ireland.”

Can you imagine being a slave for six years after being captured and then returning to the place of your captivity to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with your captors? But keep in mind the transformation Patrick went through in Ireland. “He clung to the religion he had ignored as a teenager.”

I would tweak Mr. Olsen’s word usage just a bit. Instead of “clung to the religion” I would write, “He clung to Jesus whom he had ignored as a teenager.”

That’s the invitation for you and me in these difficult times -- to cling to Jesus, even if we’ve somewhat ignored Him over time. While the evil one tries to bring a variety of attacks and hardships to drive people away from our Lord and tempts people to question His existence, the Holy Spirit would work in us as He did in Patrick in the midst of challenges and bring us back to cling to Jesus.

You might recall Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When the Prodigal returned, the father ran to him and embraced him. His son was safe at home.

And in these challenging times, that’s what our Lord would assure us of. We’re safe with Him. Cling to Jesus.

– Pastor Schmidt