“Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt; Put me to doing, put me to suffering.”
Daily Scripture
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18
8 We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. 9 We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out.
16 So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. 17 Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. 18 We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
“Put me to doing” meant more than “show me fun hobbies.” We ask God to use us in God’s kingdom work, which a broken world often hates. “Who in their right mind would want to be put to suffering? Deeply committed disciples, that’s who. Deeply committed Christians realize that there is something bigger than their own self-interests…at work. Deeply committed disciples know that…the mission of God is more important than their personal well-being, comfort, security, and social status.” *
- This part of the prayer grew from “Put me to what thou wilt.” We often refer to Jesus anguished prayer before the cross, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26:39). In effect, that was Jesus’ prayer every day, from welcoming little children (cf. Mark 10:13-14) to spilling money changers’ profits in the Temple (cf. Matthew 21:12-13). How open are you to being daily put to God’s work?
- “Rank me with whom thou wilt” involved this prayer with “reputation.” “To pray ‘rank me with whom thou wilt’ is to place ourselves before God to be used by God for God’s purposes, regardless of the conclusions that people make about us, either explicitly or implicitly impacting our reputation.” As you choose whether to get involved in some part of God’s mission to redeem and restore the earth, how vital to your choice is how that may affect what others think of you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when people called you a friend of sinners (cf. Luke 7:34), they didn’t mean it as a compliment, yet you embraced it. Give me courage for whatever work you call me to. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim serves as one of the pastors of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
Reflecting on this part of the Wesley Covenant prayer, I immediately think about one of my favorite characters in the Bible–Jonah. I love Jonah. He’s a complainer, a bit full of himself, a flawed human being with a deep understanding of God. He doesn’t get why God loves the way God does, but Jonah knows that forgiveness and grace are part of God’s character.
Jonah believes people who do wrong should get punished, but God chooses to forgive. So, when God asks Jonah to speak to the Ninevites, he literally runs the other way. He is doing the exact opposite of what the Wesley Covenant prayer says in our GPS today!
I felt the same way when called to be a pastor. Send someone else, Lord! Put me to doing something else, anything else, because I know being a pastor is hard work! I don’t want to suffer! Yet, when I finally said yes, I found it much easier than running away. Saying “yes” to God doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. Sometimes, ministry is hard, and loving others is not always easy. However, as 2 Corinthians states, when I say yes, God renews me on the inside every day. God is with us on this journey. When we say yes to God, we are not alone. God is with us in the doing and the suffering. May that comfort and encourage you as you say yes to what God has for you today.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Folmsbee, Chris, The Wesley Prayer Challenge Participant Book (p. 56). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
** Folmsbee, Chris. The Wesley Prayer Challenge Participant Book (p. 47). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
