Day Twenty-One
”AMEN.”
Today’s Scripture Reading
“I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you. Soon you won’t be able to see me; soon after that, you will see me.”
Some of Jesus’ disciples said to each other, “What does he mean: ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’ and ‘Because I’m going to the Father’? What does he mean by ‘soon’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.”
Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, so he said, “Are you trying to find out from each other what I meant when I said, ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’? I assure you that you will cry and lament, and the world will be happy. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has pain because her time has come. But when the child is born, she no longer remembers her distress because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. In the same way, you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and you will be overjoyed. No one takes away your joy. In that day, you won’t ask me anything. I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete.”
John 16:12-24
Reflection
Congratulations; you made it to the final day of the challenge! I’m thrilled for you to have made your way through the Wesley Covenant Prayer. Take a moment to say aloud, “Amen!” “Amen” means, “Yes, indeed!” or “Surely . . . in very truth!” To say, “Amen,” in the Wesley prayer is essentially to say that you confirm that what has been said is indeed the desire of your heart and that you will strive to make it true. You have the ability to make it so through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s take this final day to summarize where we’ve been as we have navigated this challenge. First, we discussed various aspects of the prayer related to surrender and suffering. I believe God’s will is for the world to be made whole. God’s way of making the world whole is through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. To faithfully participate with God in God’s mission to restore the world toward its intended wholeness, as we imitate the life and ministry of Jesus, is to surrender. When we surrender, we let go of the often deep-seated desires to control our own lives and, instead, give way to God’s intentions for our lives and for the world.
Giving way is not giving up. Giving way is the intentional decision we make every day to lay aside our own will and take on God’s will. To give up is simply to quit. Obviously, Wesley does not intend for Christians to quit. Wesley intends for Christians to seek first God’s will by becoming completely devoted to God’s mission.
To suffer is to open ourselves to God’s will, even if it means it costs us something and causes us to experience difficulties and discomfort. Deeply committed disciples know that when we surrender to God’s will, we open the door to the possibility of suffering. Disciples of Jesus choose to proceed with participating in God’s mission, especially for the benefit of others, even though suffering might be inevitable and necessary.
Second, we discussed how the second part of the prayer might mean that we are honored or made humble. Participating with God’s mission might very well mean that we are admired for our ministry in some way or we might even be made to feel small or insignificant. Deeply committed disciples of Jesus are fully aware that faithful participation might mean appreciation and approval, or it might mean that our ministry is seen as inconsequential. However, committed disciples choose to faithfully participate in God’s mission anyway.
Together, in community, we commit to who matters
and we commit to what matters.
Lastly, we discussed community and commitment. Essentially, community is fellowship and friendship. Fellowship and friendship are formed because of the similar values, beliefs, and interests we share with one another. The result of connecting with others who share our values, beliefs, and interests, regardless of the size of the group, produces a desire to share life together. Commitment is an anticipated outcome of a community that cares for and is attentive to the needs of others within the group. Loyalty, devotion, and ultimately, love, are the benefits of a healthy community. We are faithful to those with whom we share a common purpose, and it can be understood that our level of commitment is directly tied to the fellowship and friendship of the community we experience. Together, in community, we commit to who matters and we commit to what matters. “Amen!”
Today’s Challenge:
ENDORSE AND ENCOURAGE
Give this book to a friend or another group so they might also share in the joy of living a life in alignment with the Wesley Covenant Prayer. Take this challenge to another level by committing to lead a person or group through this book.
Personal Reflection
•Will I continue to live out the principles and precepts of this prayer? How?
•How will I stay in tune to the Holy Spirit?
Group Discussion
•What three principles or precepts from this prayer will you remember the most?
•Are you excited, scared, or both to live more fully into this challenge?
•How might this group stay together?
•How do we help measure one another’s faithfulness?
•What would you say is the main idea of this part of the prayer?
Departing Prayer
God, grant us the ability to live out this prayer every day of our lives. May we honor you, O God, as we seek to humbly represent you on this earth. As we surrender, even to the point of suffering, we pray that your name would be known and made great. Remind us daily, O God, of the relationship you long to have with all your children of the earth. Find us faithful in our daily commitment, we pray. Amen.