Missionary Renegade: One with Christ for Wednesday, 31 May 2017 - The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

One with Christ for Wednesday, 31 May 2017 - The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

A Word from John WesleyOur second conference began August 1, 1745. The next morning we spoke of sanctification as follows:
Q. When does inward sanctification begin?
A. In the moment a man is justified. (Yet sin remains in him; yea, the seed of all sin, till he is sanctified throughout.) From that time a believer gradually dies to sin, and grows in grace.
Q. Is this ordinarily given till a little before death?
A. It is not, to those who expect it no sooner.
Q. But may we expect it sooner?
A. Why not? For although we grant: (1) That the generality of believers, whom we have hitherto known, were not so sanctified till near death; (2) that few of those to whom St. Paul wrote his Epistles were so at that time; nor (3) he himself at the time of writing his former Epistles; yet all this does not prove that we may not be so today. – John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶17.

A Hymn from Charles Wesley1. Thou art the co-eternal Son,
In substance with thy Father one,
In person differing we proclaim,
In power and majesty the same;
For him in thee we magnify,
And thee in him, the Lord most high.

2. No vain distinction we confess
Betwixt a greater God and less;
No inequality there is,
But his are thine, and thine are his;
And thee we on thy Father’s seat
One glorious God for ever greet.
(Collection-1781, #245:2 & 3)

Questions for Reflection:

In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he records the essential insights he passed on to his preachers and leaders. Why is this important to John Wesley? Is it important to you?
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. Both John and Charles Wesley were convinced that if a matter was clearly taught in the Bible, it was certainly possible in this life. Do you have this same understanding? Why, or, why not?
What is the meaning for us today in the portion of the Charles Wesley hymn above? What is the promise?
Reflect on the meaning of this season in the Christian year—this is the final week before Pentecost. Do you desire what Jesus promised his disciples?

Prayer
O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all your children may be drawn into your bountiful dwelling. Amen.