Mar 16, 2024
O great apostle to the nations
who gave up your birthright of freedom
for the benefit of others,
who went forth in faith,
Christ ever above you and before you
and all around to protect you
who were brought through trial
to do His will
in bringing God to unbelievers,
you who never doubted –
pray that we, too, shall spend ourselves
for the sake of the Gospel
and all souls
yet to be gathered to the Lord,
that indeed from east and west
men shall come
and sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
in the kingdom of our God,
that from the ends of the earth
one people shall be drawn to Him…
and let us do all
without concern for persecution,
with the heart of a shepherd you had.