WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017
Insights from John and Charles Wesley
“’And loving God, [the Methodist] ‘loves his neighbor as himself’; he loves every man as his own soul. He loves his enemies; yea, and the enemies of God. And if it be not in his power to ‘do good’ to them that hate him yet he ceases not to ‘pray for them,’ though they spurn his love, and still ‘despitefully use him, and persecute him.’” ¶ 10, The Character of a Methodist, John Wesley.
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. All glory to God in the Sky,
And peace upon earth be restored!
O Jesus, exalted on high,
Appear, our omnipotent Lord!
Who meanly in Bethlehem born,
Didst stoop to redeem a lost race,
Once more to thy creatures return,
And reign in thy kingdom of grace.
2. When thou in our flesh didst appear
All nature acknowledged thy birth:
Arose the acceptable year,
And heaven was opened on earth;
Receive its Lord from above,
The world was united to bless,
The giver of concord and love,
The Prince and the Author of peace.
(Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord-1745, #18: 1 & 2)
Questions for Reflection:
God of new beginnings, you wipe away our tears and call us to care for one another. Give us eyes to see your gifts, hearts to embrace all creation, and hands to serve you every day of our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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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Copyright © 2017 The Upper Room, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Insights from John and Charles Wesley
“’And loving God, [the Methodist] ‘loves his neighbor as himself’; he loves every man as his own soul. He loves his enemies; yea, and the enemies of God. And if it be not in his power to ‘do good’ to them that hate him yet he ceases not to ‘pray for them,’ though they spurn his love, and still ‘despitefully use him, and persecute him.’” ¶ 10, The Character of a Methodist, John Wesley.
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. All glory to God in the Sky,
And peace upon earth be restored!
O Jesus, exalted on high,
Appear, our omnipotent Lord!
Who meanly in Bethlehem born,
Didst stoop to redeem a lost race,
Once more to thy creatures return,
And reign in thy kingdom of grace.
2. When thou in our flesh didst appear
All nature acknowledged thy birth:
Arose the acceptable year,
And heaven was opened on earth;
Receive its Lord from above,
The world was united to bless,
The giver of concord and love,
The Prince and the Author of peace.
(Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord-1745, #18: 1 & 2)
Questions for Reflection:
- In what ways does my character reflect John Wesley’s description of a Methodist (above)?
- In what ways does my character differ?
- What is the Holy Spirit inviting me to do in response to the words of John Wesley and the hymn text from Charles Wesley?
God of new beginnings, you wipe away our tears and call us to care for one another. Give us eyes to see your gifts, hearts to embrace all creation, and hands to serve you every day of our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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.
-------
Copyright © 2017 The Upper Room, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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