Training ground, yet incomplete, for seismic awakening...1

"The Germans."  That is what John Wesley called the Moravians he met on the ship to the Americas in January 1736. They and their lives rocked him and initiated his road to a true faith in God.

"How can that be?" you ask, having seen the glorious 22 questions and standards of life he sought to attain years earlier! (See my previous article)

Best are his own words* describing some of that process, from his journal, Sunday, January 25, 1736:

And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down...no complaint ... There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the Spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on.

Here began the impression that the Moravian Brethren had on him. He began a process of seeking - for months, asking questions about the difference in their faith in the assurance of forgiveness, searching the Scriptures together with a Moravian missionary he met later- and found what he had missed...

From his journal, Wednesday, May 24, 1738:

That this faith was the gift, the free gift of God; and that he would surely bestow it upon every soul who earnestly and perseveringly sought it. I was now thoroughly convinced; and, by the grace of God, I resolved to seek it unto the end, 1. By absolutely renouncing all dependence, in whole or in part, upon my own works or righteousness, on which I had really grounded my hope of salvation, though I knew it not, from my youth up. 2. By adding to the constant use of all the other means of grace, continual prayer for this very thing, justifying, saving faith, a full reliance on the blood of Christ shed for me; a trust in Him, as my Christ, as my sole justification, sanctification, and redemption.

"a full reliance on the blood of Christ shed for me..."

Have you persevered in finding the truth of this faith in Christ, which saves? Have you, too, like Wesley, depended on your own works for that salvation?

Then come to Jesus for this great gift.  He has done it all.  Your task? Seek Him; find that great treasure!  Then you will be able to follow in His strength, not your own!

And there is joy and peace for your storms!

*https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/moravians-and-wesley