“A true follower of Jesus never becomes accustomed to the sound of footsteps headed for hell.”
Special Announcement – Congregational Meeting date has been moved up one week. We will meet at the close of the January 19 worship service. Please be in attendance.
I know many of you enjoyed Dr. Tom Fuller and our Wesley Renewal Weekend . Many of you found what he shared not only informing but inspirational. Study of John Wesley is more than just a walk down history’s lane, Mr. Wesley can provide us valuable insights to one’s relationship with Jesus and with others. Further, he is still the “go to” on building the kind of Christian community that is best at being effectively transformative.
Early on as the moniker “Methodist” had taken hold and then owned by Mr. Wesley, he sought to end the rumor and confusion of the proper identity of Methodists. He did so with a pamphlet entitled “The Character of a Methodist”. Its intent was not only to inform about Methodists but provide a standard for Methodist Christians. He began it with:
“A Methodist is one who has the “love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit given to him;” one who “love the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul; which is constantly crying out, “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee! My God and my all! Thou are the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever!”
That’s how he began to list several distinguishing marks of a Methodist, which is so right since Jesus said that was the most important commandment of all. Not out of some beggarly obligation but out of passionate love for the One who has saved us! It is appropriate that we Methodists today would begin just here to assess the vitality of our relationship with God, the health of our souls.
Socrates, a seeker of truth long before Wesley and one of those upon whom Western Civilization was built, once wrote, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Wesley encouraged self-examination. I would encourage you to spend a few moments reflecting on the first distinguishing mark of a Methodist and ask how it is manifested in your life. For it is the first of our vision to Love, Follow, and Serve Jesus , and thrive in ’25!
Loving you in Jesus!
Pastor Brian
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