John Wesley’s Statute, Picture located on Christianity Today
“Remembering Aldersgate Day”
Today, May 24th is a special day for Methodists. That is because it was the day John Wesley had his conversion experience. He struggled throughout his young adult years to recognize that God loved him. Spending years working on becoming the best Christian possible. John Wesley and his brother, Charles, and several others, became missionaries to the colony of Georgia. The mission trip failed, and John Wesley returned how questioned if he was saved. While in Georgia, Wesley befriended members of a Christian community known as Moravians.
John returned home to England and sought out a community of Moravians living because of their sincere faith. He desperately wanted this for himself. On the evening of May 24th, 1738, Moravians invited him to worship. While the readers were sharing, John finally realized God truly loved him there at a meeting house on Aldersgate Street. John had worked to devote his life to God, but it was not about his work and knowledge. God loved John.
I believe many of us can relate to John Wesley’s story. We have likely had moments on our journey where we struggled to know God loved us and where we may have felt like we failed. But God is always faithful and loves you as His child. God loves you for who you are and not for what you do in life. God loves you.
John Wesley went on from Aldersgate to be involved in preaching and creating small groups for over the next fifty years. Many groups claim to connect to him today, including around 80 million people who identify as Methodist, including the largest, The United Methodist Church, which has over 12 million members worldwide. God used John Wesley for his kingdom, and God can you and me do great things for Him too!
Let us pray.
Wesley’s Covenant Prayer (UMH # 607)
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Song of Praise: And Can It Be – Writing by Charles Wesley
“Remembering Aldersgate Day”
Today, May 24th is a special day for Methodists. That is because it was the day John Wesley had his conversion experience. He struggled throughout his young adult years to recognize that God loved him. Spending years working on becoming the best Christian possible. John Wesley and his brother, Charles, and several others, became missionaries to the colony of Georgia. The mission trip failed, and John Wesley returned how questioned if he was saved. While in Georgia, Wesley befriended members of a Christian community known as Moravians.
John returned home to England and sought out a community of Moravians living because of their sincere faith. He desperately wanted this for himself. On the evening of May 24th, 1738, Moravians invited him to worship. While the readers were sharing, John finally realized God truly loved him there at a meeting house on Aldersgate Street. John had worked to devote his life to God, but it was not about his work and knowledge. God loved John.
I believe many of us can relate to John Wesley’s story. We have likely had moments on our journey where we struggled to know God loved us and where we may have felt like we failed. But God is always faithful and loves you as His child. God loves you for who you are and not for what you do in life. God loves you.
John Wesley went on from Aldersgate to be involved in preaching and creating small groups for over the next fifty years. Many groups claim to connect to him today, including around 80 million people who identify as Methodist, including the largest, The United Methodist Church, which has over 12 million members worldwide. God used John Wesley for his kingdom, and God can you and me do great things for Him too!
Let us pray.
Wesley’s Covenant Prayer (UMH # 607)
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Song of Praise: And Can It Be – Writing by Charles Wesley
Sung by Stuart Townend
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu2uA6U4Fxg
Scripture Lesson: Romans 12:1-2
Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2012:1-2&version=NIV