A Heart that is Cleansed for Wednesday, 22 March 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

A Heart that is Cleansed for Wednesday, 22 March 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

A Word from John Wesley
Now, it is evident the apostle here speaks of a deliverance wrought in this world. For he saith not, The blood of Christ will cleanse (at the hour of death, or in the day of judgment), but it “cleanseth,” at the present time, us living Christians “from all sin.”[John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶12]
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. Jesus, the gift divine I know,
The gift divine I ask of thee;
That living water now bestow,
Thy Spirit and thyself on me.
Thou, Lord, of life the fountain art:
Now let me find thee in my heart!
2. Thee let me drink, and thirst no more
For drops of finite happiness;
Spring up, O well, in heavenly power,
In streams of pure, perennial peace,
In peace, that none can take away,
In joy, which shall forever stay.(Collection-1781, #354:1 & 2)

Questions for Reflection:

1. In John Wesley’s description above, do you agree that a Christian can be “at the present time” cleansed from all sin—in this life? Do you share this optimism of the power of God’s love and grace?
2. Charles Wesley’s hymn above is a prayer, can you pray it? Can you sing and ask to God for to do this in you today?
3. “That living water now bestow,
4. Thy Spirit and thyself on me.
5. Thou, Lord, of life the fountain art:
6. Now let me find thee in my heart!”
7. Do you believe people today can receive Jesus in this way? Why or why not?
8. What feeling are being stirred in you in response to this important teaching of the Wesley brothers? Are there memories or experience that need to be healed before you could respond differently?

Prayer:
Enduring Presence, goal and guide, you go before and await our coming. Only our thirst compels us beyond complaint to conversation, beyond rejection to relationship. Pour your love into our hearts, that, refreshed and renewed, we may invite others to the living water given to us in 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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Day Twenty-One: Cal-Pac's Daily Lenten Devotionals for Wednesday, 22 March 2017 from The California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California, United States "Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones ..."

Lent 2017: Day Twenty-One

Week Three: Mission Field
Reflection for the Week: What encourages me to engage more fully in the mission field?
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, such as your hip and thigh bones. It contains immature cells, called stem cells. The stem cells can develop into the red blood cells that carry oxygen through your body, the white blood cells that fight infections, and the platelets that help with blood clotting. (www.medlineplus.com)
Bone marrow is a wonderful mystery to me. I think it is cool that at the very core of our being there is something with potential to become what I need to live. When needed, the stems cells become red cells to carry life giving oxygen. When needed, the stems cells become white cells to fight off infections that could kill me. When needed, stems cells become platelets that help me heal. Those are all “good works” in my book. What a wonderful blessing that God has placed within us this life giving source. It is wonderful and real, but it is still a mystery to me.
The mystery of the indwelling Christ is a similar. Christian theology teaches that the life-giving power that was in Jesus while on earth was Holy Spirit. The story of Pentecost teaches us this Holy Spirit is now in us as the church (Acts 2:4). This fits with Jesus’ promise in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”[NRSV.]
There is something at the core of our being as Christians that keeps urging us to do good works. There is something at the core of our being that calls us to acts of kindness. There is something at the core of our being that wants goodness and life, something that cries out against the spiritual infections of evil and despair, something that enters with healing when we are wounded. The Spirit of Christ is not floating around us, it is moving within us bring us goodness and calling us to do good works.
When you begin to courageously accept the indwelling power of Christ in your life, it reshapes your whole identity. It changes you -- right down to the marrow.
Prayer: Living, loving God, May your Spirit be in me and move through me. Amen.
Rev. John Farley
Dean of Cabinet
California-Pacific Conference
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Inspiring the world as passionate followers of Jesus Christ so all may experience God's life-giving love...Copyright © 2017 The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
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