FRIDAY
Last week and this week in the devotionals, we are looking at some stories of people’s encounters with the presence of God to give us some perspective on the various ways we can experience the presence of God. Last week we looked at biblical characters. This week we will explore the stories of some believers’ encounters with God in the history of the church.
Today, we reflect on a pivotal moment in Christian history that occurred on May 24, 1738. John Wesley, despite being an ordained minister and dedicated missionary, struggled deeply with his faith and assurance of salvation. On that evening, he attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London where someone was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
Wesley later wrote in his journal about what happened next: "About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
This transformative experience marked a turning point in Wesley's ministry. Though he had been preaching and serving for years, this personal encounter with God's grace ignited a new fire within him. After Aldersgate, Wesley's ministry took on renewed vigor. He began preaching in the open air, reaching thousands who would never step foot in a church. He rode on horseback across England, preaching up to three times a day, establishing Methodist societies, and sparking a revival that would transform Britain and eventually spread across the world.
Wesley's experience reminds us that God often brings us into deeper levels of trust in him. Even those who appear outwardly religious experience deeper, personal encounters with God's grace. These experiences can be transformative, revealing that true faith isn't just about knowledge or good works, but about a heart-level trust in Christ. This is difficult to explain, but you know it when you experience it.
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Reflection
“Lord, continue to warm our hearts to the truth of your gospel. Would you bring us into deeper experiences of your grace, your mercy, and your love?”