Fletcher - More of God's Grace
The hero of the Methodist movement, of course, was John Wesley, but there were a number of other people who also had a massive impact, but who are not as well remembered.
In his book Methodism, William Bardsley Brash talks about a few of them. He says this on page 123: "These men, of whom the world was not worthy, revealed to us the story of a high service and of self-renunciation. No revival ever produced a more glorious or interesting group of men, and the battle could not have been won without them." So maybe you'll be inspired by them as I was when I read this book.
Faithful Lives That Shaped Revival
The first one was John Fletcher, who was a great support to Wesley, and the author says of him: "The beauty of his life was manifest to all."
In fact, John Wesley himself said this: "Many exemplary men have I known, holy in heart, holy in life, but one equal to Fletcher I have not known; one so inwardly and outwardly devoted to God."
Somebody else said, "There have been some men as holy, but none holier," and another said, "Never since the rise of Christianity has the mind which was in Christ Jesus been more faithfully copied than it was in Fletcher." What a man he must have been.
A Life Marked by Contentment
Now Fletcher was offered a pretty lucrative position in his day, but he actually turned it down because he said the income was too large. Whenever he was asked if he had any needs, all he said was, "I want nothing but more grace." Nothing but more grace.
Maybe this is what we can learn from this man today. He sounds a bit like Paul, who said in Philippians 4:11-13, I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
John Fletcher was a man who embodied this, just as Paul was. What about you and I? Are we content whatever our circumstances? Do we simply want more grace, and nothing else? Paul also said that God told him that His grace would be sufficient for him - which is just what Fletcher seemed to be all about. I pray that that sentiment will be in your heart and mind today: that whatever happens in our lives, we will want for nothing except more of God's grace.
Through constant physical pain, Kim Phuc discovered that contentment comes from choosing God in every moment and saturating herself in Scripture. Today, ask God to teach you the secret of finding peace despite your circumstances.