Missionary Renegade: The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 3 January 2018 "The Tenth Day of Christmas"

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 3 January 2018 "The Tenth Day of Christmas"

The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 3 January 2018 "The Tenth Day of Christmas"

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018
A Word from John Wesley
Q. What is the first advice that you would give them [those desiring full salvation]?
A. Watch and pray continually against pride. If God has cast it out, see that it enter no more: it is full as dangerous as desire, and you may slide back into it unawares; especially if you think there is no danger of it. . . . So you ascribe all the knowledge you have to God, and in this respect you are humble. But if you think you have more than you really have, or if you think you are so taught of God as no longer to need man’s teaching, pride lieth at the door. (John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶25.)
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. Glory be to God on high,
And Peace on Earth descend;
God comes down. He bows the sky.
He shows himself our Friend!
God the Invisible appears,
God the Blest, the Great I Am
Sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is his Name.
2. See the Eternal Son of God
A mortal Son of Man,
Dwelling in an Earthly clod
Whom heaven cannot contain!
Stand amazed ye heavens at this!
See the Lord of Earth and skies
Humbled to the dust He is,
And in a Manger lies! (Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord-1745, #4:1, 3.)
Questions for Reflection:

In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he makes it clear that humility is an essential quality. Who is a person you know that demonstrates this sort of humility and dependence on Christ?
What is the meaning of Charles Wesley’s hymn for us today?
What is the humility that Charles sees in Christ?

Prayer: O Holy One, heavenly angels spoke to earthly shepherds and eternity entered time in the child of Bethlehem. Through the telling of the Christmas story, let our temporal lives be caught up in the eternal in that same child, that we might join shepherds and all the heavenly host in praising the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. 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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