The Knees of Wesley

On March 2, 1871 John Wesley died at the age of 87.  During his lifetime this preacher of the gospel who gave life to a spiritual movement which still breathes life today traveled on horseback some 250,000 miles.  He preached two or three times a day and preached over 40,000 sermons in his lifetime.  He required very little for himself giving away 30,000 pounds.  One historian wrote that when Wesley died, "he left a good library of books, a well worn clergy gown, and the Methodist Church."  It was a Methodist Church which permeated the English culture, took root in America, and became that new nation's largest denomination.    

One thing which must not be overlooked as we remember the work of this spiritual giant and father of Methodism is his prayer life.  Every morning at 4 am Wesley would rise and for the next four hours he was praying and seeking God.  No preacher in today's church could be more busy in ministry than was Wesley and, where as, too many preachers today find themselves too busy to pray for even one hour, praying long, praying early, and praying first was never an option for Wesley. We often say that Methodism is a faith born out of a "heart strangely warmed," but it must also be said that it was surely birthed on the knees of Wesley.  

When those who lead the church become too busy to pray and when the church's ministry of doing becomes so dominant that there is no still hours for praying, it is certain that the church is going to lose both its spiritual power and its reason for being.  We may point our finger in many directions as we consider the cause of the trouble brewing and boiling over today in the church founded by Wesley, but as we do, each of us must surely point that finger at the one we see in the mirror.