March 24

Read: Luke 11:9-13

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

Make Haste, Man, Make Haste!

At Wesley’s Conference in 1759 the question was asked, “Is this death to sin and renewal in love gradual or instantaneous?” The illustrative answer was, “A man may be dying for some time, yet he does not, properly speaking, die, until the instant the soul is separated from the body; and in that instant he lives the life of eternity.”

The next question was, “How are we to wait for this change?” Here is the answer that Wesley gave: “Not in careless indifference, or indolent activity; but in vigorous, universal obedience, in a zealous keeping of all the commandments, in watchfulness and [painstaking], in denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily; as well as in earnest prayer and fasting, and a close attendance on all the ordinances of God… It is true we receive it by simple faith; but God does not, will not, give that faith unless we seek it with all diligence in the way which he hath ordained.

“This consideration may satisfy those who inquire why so few have received the blessing. Inquire how many are seeking it in this way, and you have a sufficient answer. Prayer especially is wanting. Who continues instant therein? Who wrestles with God for this very thing? So ‘ye have not, because ye ask not; or because ye ask amiss,’ namely that you may be renewed before you die. Before you die! Will that content you? Nay, but ask that it may be done now, today, while it is called today. Do not call this ‘setting God a time.’ Certainly today is His time as well as tomorrow. Make haste, man, make haste! Let

“Thy soul break out in strong desire, Thy perfect bliss to prove; Thy longing heart be all on fire To be dissolved in love!”

— Christian Perfection