John Wesley

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.
- John Wesley

Last night I got to reading a bit from John Wesley's diary. He kept a journal of a good chunk of his life with a little snippet written down every day or two, and believe me, it's fascinating reading. Sometimes I begin to think that the trials, problems and people we encounter are common only to the age we live in, but when you crack back the cover of history you can see that's clearly not the case.

For example, one of the little sisters with which John Wesley was acquainted witnessed to a friend of hers that she should not associate with a certain wicked bunch of folks. The woman replied that she would hastily go to their company, for she was certainly the most wicked woman around!

Wow. I felt like I was reading something out of yesterday's newspaper.

John Wesley routinely endured persecution and hardship himself. Once during his travels he heard news of the wicked people in a nearby town, and filled with compassion walked through the sleet, snow and freezing rain until a layer of ice covered his body and, by the time he had arrived, could barely stand. He rested just long enough to gather his strength a little, and then went into the square and began to preach. The whole town was converted. John wrote that because they had never known any form of religion they were all the more ready to accept Christ. I can agree with that. Everyone has so much religion today that they don't want the truth.

But that's how John Wesley preached. He would travel into a town, march into a field, and begin preaching for all he was worth. Once a minister from a church in a nearby village, filled with the devil, ran through the gathered crowds with his cart and horse, trying to run people over. On another occasion a throng of drunken young people came to the place where John Wesley was spending the night, intent on doing him harm, but as soon as John saw them and before they could say a word he dropped to his knees and began praying for them. Thirty minutes later (John's words) they left peacefully and in good spirits.

When I read these stories of these great men of faith that have gone on before, I see Christ moving among the seven candlesticks.