Have
you ever thought about where the concept of New Years resolutions come from?
They date back at least as far as the time of the Babylonians, who saw the new
year as a time to return things borrowed and to fulfill their debts. In
Medieval times, after Christmas, knights were to lay their hands on peacocks
and vow to be more chivalrous. Many religious groups, especially Christians,
make resolutions at the start of the new year to become more perfect in their
faith by becoming more aware of their imperfections and trying to improve upon
them. John Wesley, the Father of Methodism, developed a Covenant Renewal
Service to be used, at the very least, on January 1. Wesley felt the service
should be used regularly, and led congregations in the service whenever he
visited them but insisted that all Methodists should participate in the
Covenant Renewal service at the first of the year. The purpose of the service
was to make a commitment to reaffirm our faith in, and service to Jesus Christ.
While
we will not be having a Covenant Renewal service this January 1, I am
reprinting part of the service for your consideration. I'd like to suggest that
we make a new tradition in our homes by starting each year reading the covenant
renewal, and considering how we will respond to it. But I also recommend that we
remember this covenant renewal at other times o our lives, as well.
Perhaps we remember as we celebrate birthdays, or as we mourn deaths.
Perhaps we remember when we receive an unexpected blessing. May we often
reaffirm our covenant with God.
If
you are alone on New Year's day, read the service aloud. Hear the words and let
them come to life for you. If you are with others, choose one person to lead
the service as others respond. Again, read the service aloud and pay attention
to the words. Let them come to life within you, challenging you to grow in your
relationship with Jesus Christ.
WESLEY'S COVENANT SERVICE
INVITATION
Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to
him, that you may belong to him. Christ has many services to be done. Some are
more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful.
Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others
are contrary to both.
In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there
are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to
be a servant of Christ.
Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:
Let me be
your servant, under your command. I will no longer be my own. I will give up
myself to your will in all things.
Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
Lord, make
me what you will.
I put myself
fully into your hands:
put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and
with a willing heart
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.
Christ will be the Savior of none but his servants. He is the
source of all salvation to those who obey.
Christ will have no servants except by consent;
Christ will not accept anything except full consent to all
that he requires.
Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing.
Confirm this by a holy covenant.
To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these
admonitions:
First, set apart some time, more than once, to be spent alone
before the Lord; in seeking earnestly God's special assistance, and
gracious acceptance of you; in carefully thinking through all the conditions of
the covenant; in searching your hearts whether you have already freely
given your life to Christ. Consider what your sins are. Consider the laws of Christ, how holy,
strict, and spiritual they are, and whether you, after having carefully
considered them, are willing to choose them all. Be sure you are clear in
these matters, see that you do not lie to God.
Second, be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.
Third, claim God's covenant, rely upon God's promise of giving
grace and strength, so you can keep your promise. Trust not your own
strength and power.
Fourth, resolve to be faithful. You have given to the Lord your
hearts, you have opened your mouths to the Lord, and you have
dedicated yourself to God. With God's power, never go back.
And last, be then prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord. Fall
down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven, open your hearts to the
Lord, as we pray:
COVENANT PRAYER
O righteous
God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I fall down before you. Forgive
my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to
me if I turn to you with my whole heart.
God requires that you shall put away all your idols.
I here from
the bottom of my heart renounce them all, covenanting with you that no known
sin shall be allowed in my life. Against your will, I have turned my love
toward the world. In your power I will watch all temptations that will lead me
away from you. For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, unable to stand
before you.
Through Christ, God has offered to be your God again if you
would let him.
Before all
heaven and earth, I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God. I take you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give up myself, body
and soul, as your servant, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the
days of my life.
God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means
of coming to God.
Jesus, I do
here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and
sincerely join myself in a covenant with him. O blessed Jesus, I come to you,
hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of
your servants. I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head. I
renounce my own worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness. I
renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide. I renounce my own will,
and take your will as my law.
Christ has told you that you must suffer with him.
I do here
covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall. Through
your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall part me from you.
God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.
I do here
willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden. All your laws are
holy, just, and good. I therefore take them as the rule for my words, thoughts,
and actions, promising that I will strive to order my whole life according to
your direction, and not allow myself to neglect anything I know to be my duty.
The almighty God searches and knows your heart.
O God, you
know that I make this covenant with you today without guile or reservation. If
any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it aright. And now,
glory be to you, O God the Father, whom I from this day forward shall look upon
as my God and Father. Glory be to you, O God the Son, who have loved me and
washed me from my sins in your own blood, and now is my Savior and Redeemer. Glory
be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned my
heart from sin to God.
O mighty
God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have now become my
Covenant Friend. And I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant
servant. So be it.
And let the
covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
