"All Who Seek the Lord Jesus" for Wednesday, 10 May 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

"All Who Seek the Lord Jesus" for Wednesday, 10 May 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017
A Word from John Wesley:
This it is to be a perfect man
, to be “sanctified throughout;” even “to have a heart so all flaming with the love of God,” “as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work, as a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God, through Christ;” in every thought of our hearts, in every word of our tongues, in every work of our hands, to “show forth His praise, who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Oh that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus be made perfect in one![John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶15]
A Hymn from Charles Wesley:1. Thou the good Shepherd a:rt,
From thee I ne’er shall part:
Thou my keeper and my guide,
Make me still thy tender care;
Gently lead me by thy side,
Sweetly in thy bosom bear.
2. Thou art my daily bread;
O Christ, thou art my head!
Motion, virtue, strength to me,
Me, thy living member, flow;
Nourished I, and fed by thee,
Up to thee in all things grow.(Collection-1781, #186:4 & 5)
Questions for Reflection:

1. In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he weaves together a variety of scripture verses from the Bible of his day, the King James Version, to paint the picture of a person filled with the love and life of Christ. Why is this important to John Wesley? Is it important to you?
2. The gift and the challenge of the Wesleyan way of discipleship is this vision and desire to be one with Christ and fully alive in him. If Jesus promised you this life and power, would you want it? Would you join John Wesley’s prayer in the final sentence above, “Oh that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus be made perfect in one!”?
3. What is the meaning for us today when Charles Wesley guides us to sing the words above? What is the promise?
4. Reflect on the meaning of this season in the Christian year—the mystery of the power of Christ made available to us in his resurrection and soon to be made present in us because of Pentecost. What do the final two lines of the hymn above mean to you? “Nourished I, and fed by thee, / Up to thee in all things grow.”

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Prayer:
Holy Shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, where we celebrate with you forever. Amen.

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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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