My Student Epistle

I, present Wesley, a bondslave of the one True King, Jesus Christ, write to you, future Wesley, to encourage you to press on towards godliness and to be conformed more and more into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ – no matter what is going on in the world. God’s grace, mercy, and peace be upon you continually.

First, always be meditating on the solid fact that God loves you. He loves you for who you are and because of who He is. He loved you even before you knew it. He even fashioned you in your mother’s womb, hand-crafting every single detail about you. His thoughts toward you are more numerable than your finite mind can keep track. He is absolutely crazy about you, will relentlessly pursue you, and He will always remain this way.

And guess what? He has a purpose for you. It is revealed to you through His Word. Read it. Devour it. Meditate on it day and night. Hide it in your heart. In it is the key to living life as God intended for you to live it. It will tell you where you are coming short of His glory and tell you how to fix it. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of your heart. He loves you enough to not leave you the same. Let His Word shape you and mold you, cutting off unneeded junk that you so mindlessly drag around with you. People should be able to tell that there is something different about you because you have spent time with Him in His Word.

For some reason, if you are unsure what you are supposed to be doing, devote yourself to the apostle’s doctrine, prayer, fellowship and eating with fellow believers. These are healthy things to do for Christians so not only do them yourself but encourage others to do the same. Set the example for other believers in your faith, purity, love, conduct, and speech.

Hey, newsflash – you are not all that. You are not that big of a deal. So don’t think too highly of yourself. Leave no room for pride in your life – instead, be in an attitude of humility. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It is solely by God’s grace that you are who you are and you are able to do anything. God’s grace is sufficient for you. Learn to be content in all things – especially in having a personal relationship with the Creator of Everything. Do not look to anything or anyone to fulfill you, but Christ. He is all you need.

Pray. Pray, pray, pray! If you want to see God move and things happen fo the sake of the Kingdom of God, prayer is an essential. Set aside some time where you can talk to God. Seek His face. And listen to Him. But do not limit your communication with Him to that time slot. Communicate with Him throughout your day. He wants to know how you are doing. He wants to know how you are feeling. He eagerly desires to spend time with you – His child.

Live in victory knowing that Christ is victorious. Extend God’s love to others through the life you live on a daily basis. When life gets hard, remember that you are fighting FROM victory, not for victory because Jesus conquered sin and death and those no longer hold any power over you. Be bold and step out in faith. God’s past faithfulness should spur you on to present obedience. Be strong and very courageous to speak forth God’s Word. Proclaim the Gospel wherever you are and to whomever you find yourself with, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. Be diligent, fight the good fight of faith and be faithful in what the Lord has called you to do for the time being. Live your life prepared and ready for the Lord’s return. Live your life in such a way that it provokes others to Christ. Remember that you have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer you who live, but Christ living in you. And the life you now live, live by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you.

Maintain a high view of God. Never stop thinking, admiring, and standing in awe of God. He is worthy to be praised, forever and a day – even if you do not feel like it. He deserves the spot of second to none in your life. It is all about Him. It always was about Him. And it will always be about Him. Do not be fooled into thinking that somehow your life is about you. You were made to worship him. Fulfill God’s reason for making you and submit in worship to Him. Sure, sing songs of praise to Him, but more importantly, make sure your heart is in the right place – worship with the right motives. God does not look at the outward appearance like man does, but instead He looks at the heart. Your heart is what He cares about. Do not try to hide anything because everything is naked and bare before His eyes.

The Lord is faithful. You do not need to worry about that. He is faithful even when we are faithless for He cannot deny Himself. He will never change. Rest in this fact.

Finally, continue to seek Him and have a burning desire to know Him more and more intimately. He is amazing beyond words - incomparable to anything we can think of. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Seek Him. Love Him. Be all about His business. Remember your fellow brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for His name’s sake. Pray for your leaders – secular and ecclesiastical alike.

Make sure the aim of your charge is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a pure faith.