I Am PatrickSýnishorn

DAY 1: We Are All Slaves

DEVOTIONAL:

In the 5th century, the Roman Empire was collapsing and barbarians threatened civilization. In Britain, a teenager named Patrick was living a comfortable life as the son of a government official. Despite being part of the Roman Catholic Church, his faith meant nothing to him, until he was kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16 and enslaved at the edge of the known world – Ireland.

While Patrick’s inception to slavery was dramatic, scripture tells us that we are all actually born as slaves—slaves to sin (Rom. 5:12). We see in this clip that Patrick believed he had been enslaved because of his indifference to God and, therefore, God’s wrath was being poured out upon him. It’s a common trait when bad things happen to feel like you’ve done something wrong. Something to deserve what you’re facing. The reality is every single person has sinned and the wages of sin is death. But as God opens our eyes to the truth of the Gospel, that God’s wrath was poured out on the cross, and we have been reconciled through Christ, we find freedom. Through historical re-enactments, expert interviews, and his own writings, moviegoers can witness Patrick’s journey from man to saint. I AM PATRICK is in select theaters nationwide on March 17–18 only. 

TALK IT OVER:

1. How difficult is it for you to consider yourself a slave? 
2. When have you felt like something difficult in your life was the result of God’s anger at you? How does knowing that you have been pardoned from all your sins change that perspective?
3. What has Christ provided you freedom from?