Staying Happy In Jesus
A few years ago, while on my sabbatical, I visited St. Michael's Church in Madeley, England, where the great Methodist, John Fletcher, served for many years.
Fletcher is one of my heroes. He spent his entire ministry in one small town church -- and touched the world from the "end of it." His life was marked by an unusual joy and devotion to Christ.
When John Wesley offered to turn the leadership of the entire Methodist movement over to Fletcher, the little vicar humbly declined, saying, "The snail does best in its shell; were it to aim at galloping, like the reacehorse, it would be ridiculous indeed."
I was also privileged to visit the Methodist Archives during my trip to Britain, and came upon several boxes of Fletcher's papers: sermons, notes, journals, and letters. For a entire day, I sat in the library "mining treasures" from the heart of this godly man.
One letter, dated January 28, 1763, particularly gripped my heart. In a flowing 18th Century script, Fletcher wrote on the secret to staying happy in Jesus.
1. Live above earthly and creature comforts.
2. Beware of flatness and lukewarmness. This, if not carried immediately to the Lord, ends often in darkness and deadness.
3. Value Divine comforts above all things, and prize Christ above all comforts, that if they should fail, you may still glory in the God of your salvation.
4. Let that which torments others make your happiness -- I mean self-denial and renouncing your own will.
One letter, dated January 28, 1763, particularly gripped my heart. In a flowing 18th Century script, Fletcher wrote on the secret to staying happy in Jesus.
1. Live above earthly and creature comforts.
2. Beware of flatness and lukewarmness. This, if not carried immediately to the Lord, ends often in darkness and deadness.
3. Value Divine comforts above all things, and prize Christ above all comforts, that if they should fail, you may still glory in the God of your salvation.
4. Let that which torments others make your happiness -- I mean self-denial and renouncing your own will.
5. Be ready to yield with joy to every conviction of the Spirit of God. Be faithful to present grace and aspire after a continual growth.
6. Live the present moment to God, and avoid perplexing yourself about your past or future experiences. By giving up yourself to Christ as you are, and being willing to receive him now, as he is, leaving all the rest to him, you will cut up a thousand temptations by the roots.
6. Live the present moment to God, and avoid perplexing yourself about your past or future experiences. By giving up yourself to Christ as you are, and being willing to receive him now, as he is, leaving all the rest to him, you will cut up a thousand temptations by the roots.
Certainly there are those of us who were and are destined to stay in the place where we feel most comfortable and can also serve God effectively. But how will you know if that is the Lord's ultimate destiny for you if you don't keep reaching out and trying new things for Him? Oswald Chamber's favorite words were always: "My utmost for His highest." Do you think it is wise for us to get too comfortable in one place for too long? How can we tell when we have reached the place where God wants us to stay? There is a Jerusalem for each of us, how will we know when we have reached it? Sounds like a great sermon topic to me.
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