The sun was shining brightly. The air was crisp and cold, a foreshadow of the winter which was soon to come. The only sound which broke the silence was the steady rhythm of Gus’s hooves upon the packed, dirt road.

It was a new morning, a peaceful morning, yet something felt amiss. John played the events of the past few days over in his mind. The travelling preacher had passed through several towns and was warmly welcomed in all of them. His sermons had been greeted by quiet, respectful audiences. His departures made with full saddlebags and many well wishes.

What is it? John wondered. Had his messages failed to hit the mark? Had he overlooked someone in need? Had he neglected the Lord?

The sun was directly overhead when it finally hit him. Suddenly, he knew just what the problem was!

The scriptures said, “all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Yet for three whole days he’d seen only smiling faces. He’d had neither brick nor egg thrown at him. His sermons had lacked their usual accompaniment of jeers and snickers.

Why?

John Wesley got off his horse and fell to his knees right in the middle of the road. “If I have sinned, Lord, show me where so I might confess it to Thee at once.”

 Introducing John Wesley

John Wesley was the leader of a revival movement known as Methodism.

Originally ordained as an Anglican priest, Wesley felt a burden to call sinners to repentance and challenge believers to greater accountability and discipleship. He began travelling through Great Britain and Ireland preaching the gospel in churches, halls, and open-air gatherings. Establishing small groups of Methodists as he went and appointing local lay preachers to provide them with ongoing oversight and care.

Wesley’s work was met with disapproval by the Church of England. This was largely due to his appointing spiritual leaders who were not ordained and on account of his own travels which violated the Church of England’s regulations concerning parish boundaries. Because of this, John Wesley and other Methodists were attacked verbally, in print, and also physically on many occasions.

Despite the persecution, John Wesley carried on faithfully in his work and the numbers of Methodists grew. The group becoming widely known for their bold preaching, high personal standards, and compassionate care towards the neglected and needy.

Wesley’s Prayer

John Wesley took the words of 2 Timothy iii.12 seriously. He believed that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

We often think it strange when we face persecution, but Wesley thought it strange when he didn’t. So strange, in fact, that he paused to examine his heart before the Lord after just three days without angry threats, mocking, or objects being thrown at him.

John Wesley believed Christians were supposed to be persecuted and asked God to make him worthy of that honour.

God heard Wesley’s prayer. So also did a man who was working on the other side of the hedge which ran along the road. He looked up to see from whom the prayer had come and recognized John Wesley at once.

Seizing a nearby brick, he hurled it over the hedge in Wesley’s direction. Saying, “I’ll fix that Methodist preacher!”

 The missile landed near the still-praying preacher without causing harm. It did, however, bring a smile to John’s face. “Thank God, it’s all right!” He declared and quickly remounted his horse.

In Conclusion

James i.2 tells us, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

John Wesley did. Do we?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James i.2-4)

May we, like John Wesley, embrace persecution and count its absence strange.

In Christ

Quiana

*All Scripture References in NKJV unless otherwise noted.