Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears
will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the
way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
Just as when we get married we surrender a certain lifestyle in favour of another, so too
when we are born again we are invited to surrender our old lifestyle in favour of a new
and better one, the one described in the Sermon on the Mount. The question is, do you
want to live this way? Perhaps your answer is: “Yes, but how or where do I start?” That is
certainly a spiritually poor way to begin this journey. Draw comfort from the idea that we
don’t have to learn this lifestyle, so much as admit our need and desire for it and then
listen for our Father’s guiding voice.
Commenting on the above verse, Wesley says: “Thou shalt hear the voice of God's word
and Spirit behind thee - a metaphor borrowed from shepherds, who used to follow their
sheep, and recall them when they go out of the way.” God will follow you and guide you
as you seek to walk in His way.
A little boy came running to his mother, shouting, “Mother, I am nine feet tall.” His
mother responded, “Don’t talk such nonsense.” “But,” he said, “I really am nine feet tall.
I measured myself.” “Well, how did you measure yourself?” asked his mother. “I took off
my shoe and measured myself with that. It is the same size as my foot, and I really am
nine feet.”
When we move from our standard to God’s standard (from our measure to God’s
measure) regarding how we should live, and then seek to walk in it, this wonderful
promise of Isaiah 30:21 can be fulfilled in our lives. In this way God, by His Spirit,
makes us what Jesus teaches us to be.
O do thou always warn my soul of evil near;
When to the right or left I turn,
The voice still let me hear:
“Come back! This is the way! Come back and walk herein!”
O may I hearken and obey, and shun the paths of sin! (296)
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John Wesley (1703 - 1791)
Was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms became a highly successful evangelical movement in Britain, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.Wesley helped to organise and form societies of Christians throughout Great Britain, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements.
John Wesley was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism (which later led to the forming of the Calvinistic Methodists), Wesley embraced Arminianism. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Christ personally.
Wesley believed that this doctrine should be constantly preached, especially among the people called Methodists. In fact, he contended that the purpose of the Methodist movement was to "spread scriptural holiness across England."
Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican tradition. His maverick use of church policy put him at odds with many within the Church of England, though toward the end of his life he was widely respected.
John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement which grew from the 'Holy Club' of his Oxford friends into a great religious revival. An indefatigable traveller, preacher and writer, Wesley averaged 8,000 miles a year on horseback and gave 15 sermons a week. The reluctance of the Anglican clergy to lend him their pulpits led him to give some of his sermons in the open air, a decision which enabled him to reach those among the poorer sections of society who were not accustomed to going to church.