Faithful in Service

 I just finished reading about John Wesley. A zealous evangelist, tireless worker, and tremendous administrator. He is credited with founding the Methodist denomination. Wesley spent much time in prayer. He preached a salvation by grace available to the masses. The common people without pedigree were welcomed to attend his meetings. 

This did not set well with the religious establishment of the day. He was banned from preaching in any of those pulpits. He started preaching outside drawing crowds of thousands as early as 5:00 a.m. He often preached three times a day. He traveled by horseback and did not consider retirement when he reached his seventieth or eightieth decades. He worked at winning souls and organizing the growing Methodist denomination in his day. Even back then Methodism spread far beyond England to other nations like Scotland, Ireland, and the American Colonies. 

When he was 86 years old, he did a nine week preaching tour across Ireland. He preached 100 sermons in 60 different towns and villages on that tour. No slowing down for this warrior for Christ. Six of those sermons he preached outdoors. No retirement for this flaming soul devoted to God. 

In February of the following year, at 87 he preached to a large crowd outdoors calling people to repent. A couple of weeks later he preached at a chapel in London and then preached at a friend's house the following day. Suddenly his health began to fail. His eyesight dimmed. His strength faded. He died not long afterward. 

Wesley rode on horseback over 250,000 miles preaching. To better understand the magnitude of that, it is the equivalent of circling the globe ten times. It is estimated that he averaged traveling on top of a horse around 5,000 miles per year. He preached over 40,000 times. That averages out to over a sermon a day if you include his childhood years. The average is higher if you take into account he probably did not start preaching until he was 20 something. He published more than 5,000 sermons, books, and pamphlets. This man was faithful in his devotion and service to God. 

None of us can be John Wesley. I have good news. Nobody is supposed to be. God had a unique calling and purpose for Wesley just like He has for each of us. We are called to be faithful where He planted us and doing what He purposed for us to do. Faithful service is what God desires from all of us. 

90 Plus and Going Strong

 I did some pastoral visiting yesterday to a couple of unique ladies. One is 94. She still teaches a class on Sunday mornings. She survived the death of her husband at 40 years old leaving her a widow to raise their three children. Much later one of her sons was murdered. She still radiates the joy of Jesus. Even though she lives alone, she does not feel lonely. It is her ongoing communion with the Lord Jesus Christ that keeps her from being lonely.

I visited another lady who is 93. She still mows her two and half acre place. She told me recently about weed eating her ditch. She is filled with life and energy. I felt like I was talking to a woman at least twenty years younger. She lost her husband seven years ago. She is not overwhelmed with grief, but filled with the joy of the Lord.

I never would have guessed either of these two ladies are in their nineties. They certainly do not act that way. They are vibrant. Active. Tough. Survivors. They inspire me. I am a youngster compared to them. Just because we age does not mean we are useless. God can still use us in our twilight years. We can still maintain joy no matter how old we are. We can still be of service. We can still be active and still keep living the abundant life.

Earlier in the week, I met with a man who is 94. His mind is still sharp. He battles health issues, but I did not detect bitterness or a sour disposition. His wife of 71 years died five years ago. He misses her, but he is not without hope. He trusted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 12. He knows what awaits him in eternity. He is resolved to cling to his faith all the way home to heaven.

I am thankful for the opportunity I had to visit with each of them. Very inspiring. We do not have to grow old and sour. We can still find joy in living even after facing sorrows, trials, and tribulations. May we be like those three in their nineties.