The United Methodist Church Prays of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 13 September 2017 "Praying in the Midst of Wind and Rain and Fire"

The United Methodist Church Prays of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 13 September 2017 "Praying in the Midst of Wind and Rain and Fire"

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
A Word from John Wesley*
[If one says] “But he does not come up to my idea of a perfect Christian.” And perhaps no one ever did, or ever will. For your idea may go beyond, or at least beside, the scriptural account. It may include more than the Bible includes therein; or, however, something which that does not include. Scripture perfection is pure love, filling the heart, and governing all the words and actions. If your idea includes anything more or anything else, it is not scriptural; and then, no wonder that a scripturally perfect Christian does not come up to it. (John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶19.)
A Hymn from Charles Wesley*
1. Eternal Wisdom, thee we praise,
Thee the creation sings;
With thy loud name, rocks, hills, and seas,
And heaven’s high palace rings.
2. Thy hand, how wide it spreads the sky!
How glorious to behold!
Tinged with a blue of heavenly dye,
And starred with sparkling gold.
3. There thou hast bid the globes of light
Their endless circles run;
There the pale planet rules the night,
The day obeys the sun.
4. If down I turn my wond’ring eyes
On clouds and storms below,
Those under-regions of the skies
Thy num’rous glories show. (Collection-1781, #217:1-4)
Questions for Reflection:

1. In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he wants to know and believe that “Scripture perfection is pure love, filling the heart, and governing all the words and actions.” Why is this important to John Wesley? Why should it be important to us today?
2. The gift and the challenge of the Wesleyan way of discipleship is this vision of Christian perfect—not human perfection. Every man and woman can be perfected in love, guided by love, and fully alive in Christ. Every person! What difference would this make for you? For your family? For your church?
3. What is the meaning of this Charles Wesley’s hymn for us today?
4. This hymn implies God’s presence can be seen, even in the “clouds and storms below.” What are your thoughts about this? Does the current fires in California and floods in India and in the Gulf of Mexico change your reflections on this hymn? Would your spiritual friends agree or disagree?

Prayer*
Holy God, you call us to righteousness and light. Teach us the undivided law of love, that we may love your children even as you do, love you with all our will and strength, and find our freedom in this blessed service, taught to us in word and deed by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*The Wesley excerpts are from A Disciple’s Journal—2017: A Guide for Daily Prayer, Bible Reading, and Discipleship, by Steven W. Manskar. Copyright © 2017 Discipleship Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The prayer is reprinted with permission from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002, Consultation on Common Texts.

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