A Heavenly Smile
A Heavenly Smile
On this day, May 24, in the Year of our Lord 1738, John Wesley, while attending a Moravian meeting at Aldersgate Street in London, England, listened to the reading of the preface of Martin Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans and was born again. Wesley writes about this gathering, saying: “About a quarter to nine, when he was describing the change which God works through the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warm. I felt that I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation, and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Wesley admitted that he went to the meeting that night very unwillingly and depressed. But that night proved revolutionary, not only to Wesley but also to history.
By the time Wesley died at the age of eighty-eight, people said they could see that a heavenly smile lingered on his face, reflecting the manifest presence of Christ. At the time of his death, there were more than one hundred twenty thousand Methodists around the world, or the equivalent of the entire population of England in Wesley’s day. To this day, John Wesley is listed on any list of the most influential people in history.
Loving Father, on this day use me to reach unwilling and depressed souls who are looking for a Savior.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
On this day, May 24, in the Year of our Lord 1738, John Wesley, while attending a Moravian meeting at Aldersgate Street in London, England, listened to the reading of the preface of Martin Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans and was born again. Wesley writes about this gathering, saying: “About a quarter to nine, when he was describing the change which God works through the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warm. I felt that I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation, and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Wesley admitted that he went to the meeting that night very unwillingly and depressed. But that night proved revolutionary, not only to Wesley but also to history.
By the time Wesley died at the age of eighty-eight, people said they could see that a heavenly smile lingered on his face, reflecting the manifest presence of Christ. At the time of his death, there were more than one hundred twenty thousand Methodists around the world, or the equivalent of the entire population of England in Wesley’s day. To this day, John Wesley is listed on any list of the most influential people in history.
Loving Father, on this day use me to reach unwilling and depressed souls who are looking for a Savior.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
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