Wesley’s Rule
Titus 3:4-7 (NLT)
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
I appreciate simple explanations, especially when exploring the concepts of kindness and service. During my time in Disciple 1, I searched for ways to better grasp what it means to embody these qualities and strive to be more like Christ—which is, after all, the ultimate goal.
In this search, I discovered Wesley’s Rule. Although I am not entirely certain that it originated directly from John Wesley, it is at least inspired by his teachings. The rule states:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
This principle seems to address every question about kindness and doing good. Performing acts of goodness is, in essence, the same as being kind. These actions do not need to be grand or attention-grabbing; they can be small and quiet gestures, such as picking up a piece of paper off the bathroom floor. Practicing kindness means adopting the mindset of “why not me?” instead of “why me?”
As we reflect on Wesley’s Rule and its practical call to do good in every moment, we’re reminded that kindness is woven into the fabric of daily life—it’s the quiet, persistent choice to serve as Christ did, even in the smallest ways. The grace described in Titus 3:4-7 is not earned by grand gestures but is freely given and found in humble acts: a helping hand, a gentle word, a forgiving heart. Every opportunity to show kindness becomes a reflection of God’s mercy and love, a way to live out our faith in real time. By embracing these everyday chances to bless others, we become channels of Christ’s presence in the world, carrying forward the miracle of Christmas into each ordinary day.
Paula Heiney
