Readings for John and Charles Wesley (March 3)
Psalm 98 Isaiah 49:5-6 Luke 9:2-6
“And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength” (Isaiah 49:5)
Today we remember the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. But I am going a bit deeper. Susanna Wesley, their mother, really deserves the credit. “Under their mother’s tutelage, all of the Wesley children were schooled each day in six-hour sessions, always begun and concluded with the singing of Psalms.” Although credited with starting Methodism, the denomination was actually started after their deaths. The formal separation of the Methodists from the Church of England occurred after the deaths of the two brothers in London. (Great Cloud of Witnesses for March 3)
The below is taken from: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Wesley) concerning the life of Susanna Wesley:
Susanna experienced many hardships throughout her life. Her husband left her and the children for over a year because of a minor dispute.
To her absent husband, Susanna Wesley wrote:
I am a woman, but I am also the mistress of a large family. And though the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you, yet in your long absence I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. I am not a man nor a minister, yet as a mother and a mistress I felt I ought to do more than I had yet done. I resolved to begin with my own children; in which I observe the following method: I take such a proportion of time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. On Monday I talk with Molly, on Tuesday with Hetty, Wednesday with Nancy, Thursday with Jacky, Friday with Patty, Saturday with Charles.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Wesley) I had read before that Susanna had spent at least an hour alone with each of her children. As a result, many of them grew up to be very successful. Some died as infants. She had nearly twenty children but did not let that stop her from giving quality time to each.
While this day is dedicated to John and Charles Wesley, I wanted to show the source of their greatness, their mother, Susanna Wesley. As Isaiah says, they were formed in her womb and her God has become their strength. (Isaiah 49:5)
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through the saints of God and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
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