Gospel Prism

I am really enjoying this second volume of Arnold Dallimore’s Whitefield bio. I am amazed by a couple of things thus far:

1. George Whitefield was very gracious. Dallimore recounts John Cennick’s conversion to the Moravians. This is significant because JC was Whitefield’s right hand man. GW had placed Cennick in charge of the whole Calvinist Methodist Movement and his Tabernacle. And then to hear that this man that GW had raised in the faith was turning to something that he did not even believe was the best interpretation of God’s Word, must have really affected Whitefield. And yet, when GW (in the midst of being terribly ill from his difficult ministries) wrote a letter to Cennick, it was with so much grace and love towards Cennick. Whitefield simply wanted Cennick to continue to savor Christ above all things. There are no words of embitterment and no parting shots.

2. GW was continually persecuted. His ministry was under constant attack. He was almost physically beaten to death by some attackers. He was constantly physically worn from continual ministry and preaching. And even when he went away to Bermuda for some refreshment, he was called on to continually preach and minister. I can’t help but think of the apostle Paul when I read about GW. And my own heart is convicted by how little I “put myself out there” for Christ. It is truly humbling.