A Tree is Known by its Fruits from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 25 January 2017

A Tree is Known by its Fruits from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 25 January 2017

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
A Word from John Wesley“‘And the tree is known by its fruits.’ For as [the Methodist] loves God, ‘so he keeps His commandments:’ not only some, or most of them, but all, from the least to the greatest. He is not content to ‘keep the whole law, and offend in one point,’ but has, in all points, ‘a conscience void of offence, towards God, and towards man.’ Whatever God has forbidden, he avoids; whatever God has enjoined, he does. ‘He runs the way of God’s commandments,’ now He hath set his heart at liberty.”[John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶ 10.]
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
To him that in thy name believes
Eternal life with thee is given;
Into himself he all receives—
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.
The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by reason’s glimmering ray,
With strong commanding evidence
Their heavenly origin display.
Faith lends its realizing light,
The clouds disperse, the shadows fly;
Th’ Invisible appears in sight,
And God is seen by mortal eye.(Collection-1781, #92: 4, 5, 6)
Questions for Reflection:

1. In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist above, what can you affirm and celebrate?
2. Is there anything in the description that challenges or offends you?
3. Do you desire to have “a conscience void of offence, towards God, and towards man”?
4. What is the nature and function of faith in Charles Wesley’s hymn above?
5. The final stanza of the hymn speaks of Jesus, the Word become flesh (John 1:14). In what way are we, as believers, to continue the mystery of the incarnation. Do you believe in and through the Holy Spirit in your life “God is seen by mortal eye”? Why or why not?

Prayer
God of blazing light, through the power of the cross you shattered our darkness, scattering the fears that bind us and setting us free to live as your children. Give us courage and conviction that we may joyfully turn and follow you into new adventures of faithful service, led by the light that shines through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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Excerpts from the book 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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