After an Idea of John Wesley
On December 25, 1747, John Wesley called the Methodists to renew their Covenant with God. The first such service, called the “making of a Covenant with God,” took place on August 11, 1755. Wesley published the liturgy in 1780. This form of the service was used for nearly 100 years without change. It begins with a “prayer for a pure heart,” continues with an explanation of the covenant, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of repentance, and ends with a confession of devotion to God and a binding of oneself to Him in covenant. I think it would be good for us to use what Wesley wrote and, at the beginning of this New Year, to renew our own covenant with God.
THE EXPLANATION OF THE COVENANT
We have been called to a life in Christ — a life of freedom from sin and of devotion to God. We entered this life when we were received into the New Covenant, whose mediator is our Lord Jesus Christ. He sealed it with His own blood, so that it might stand forever.
On one side of this Covenant stands God’s promise that He will accomplish in us and through us everything He promised us in Jesus Christ. We are certain that His promises apply to us even now, for daily we experience His goodness and His mercy.
On the other side of the Covenant stands our obligation no longer to live for ourselves alone, but for Him. For He loves us and gave Himself up for us. He called us to serve Him, so that the purpose of His coming might be fulfilled. On various occasions we renew the Covenant of our devotion, especially when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Today we gather deliberately, just as generations of believers before us have done — with joy and solemnity, to renew the Covenant that binds us to God. As we remember God’s mercy and the hope to which He calls us, we examine ourselves in the light of His Spirit, in order to discover where we have sinned in our faith and in our deeds. In view of all that this Covenant means, we desire once again to give ourselves to God.
Though Christ was rich, for our sake He became poor. He traveled about, doing good and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. He was tempted in every way, just as we are tempted, yet He remained without sin. He was obedient unto death, even death on a cross. He was dead, but He rose again and lives forever. To all who believe He opened the doors of the heavenly Kingdom. He is seated at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. Through Him we were born into God’s family and became members of the body of Christ. His testimony gives us assurance. His wisdom instructs us. His power strengthens us. He is ready to act for us far more than we ask or think.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
(all repeat after the preacher)
My Father, You who are the source of all good things. Through all the years of my life You have been merciful to me. I thank You for Your love and for Your mercy, with which You have filled my days.
- You saved me, and in Jesus Christ You gave me life.
- You awakened a hunger for You in my heart and called me into Your family.
- You filled me with Your Spirit and made me part of Your Church.
- You were my light in trouble; in doubt — my wall and my support.
- You thought of me when I forgot You.
- You accompanied me even when I ran away from You.
- You met me with forgiveness when I turned back to You.
For all Your patience and for the fullness of Your mercy, I glorify Your holy Name and I thank You! Amen. (a time of silence in God’s presence and of examining oneself before God)
PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
(all repeat after the preacher)
My Father, in Your beloved Son You showed me how I ought to live. With shame I confess how slowly I learned from Him, how unsteadily I followed Him. You spoke to me and called me, but I paid no attention to it. I received great blessings with little gratitude. I am unworthy of Your unchanging love. Now I ask You,
- forgive me the shallowness and selfishness of my prayers;
- forgive me my inconstancy and my unbelief;
- forgive me my hesitant witness for Christ;
- forgive me my hypocrisy and my deliberate disregard for Your ways;
- forgive me for wasting my time and my gifts;
- forgive me for excusing my unfaithful deeds and sometimes fleeing from responsibility;
- forgive me that I was not ready enough to overcome evil with good, and that I often avoided the cross;
- forgive me that so little of Your love reached others through me;
- forgive me that I so easily accepted injustice and suffering when they did not touch me;
- forgive me that my heart did not tear itself away from the things that divided me from others;
- forgive me that I made their lives harder, that I judged carelessly, condemned hastily, and forgave unwillingly;
- forgive me for the bitterness I harbored in my heart;
- forgive me for not seeking reconciliation enough;
- forgive me for the times I insisted on the punishment of wrongdoers and cared little for their salvation.
Have mercy on me and forgive me, O God, according to Your great goodness. Blot out my transgressions according to Your great mercy. Cleanse me from my guilt and my sin. Create in me a pure heart and grant me a new, steadfast spirit. Amen.
THE RENEWING OF THE COVENANT
And now, beloved, are we willing freely to be joined to our God, the Lord of the Covenant, and to take Christ’s rule upon ourselves? To take His rule means that from the heart we are ready for Him to appoint us our service, and that He alone will be our reward. Christ has many services that must be carried out — some are easy, others are hard; some bring glory, others reproach; some suit our natural gifts and interests, others go against them. In some things our will and Christ’s will overlap, but in others we can do His will only by denying ourselves. And yet, the strength to accomplish all of this is promised to us in Christ, who establishes us. Therefore let us receive God’s Covenant as our own: We desire to be joined to the Lord, and, joined in His strength, never to turn back again. Now, after this preparation, let us, with sincere trust in His mercy and leaning on His promise, once more give ourselves to Him.
PRAYER OF DEVOTION
(all repeat after the preacher)
Lord, our God, Holy Father! In Christ You made a New Covenant with us. Now I desire once again to devote myself to You and to renew my devotion to You. With joy and out of love for You, I submit to You. I vow to seek and to do Your perfect will. I no longer belong to myself, but only to You. Place me where You will and with whomever You will. Let me act, let me endure. Use me for Yourself. Exalt me for Yourself or humble me for Yourself. By free decision and with my whole heart, I surrender everything to Your will and rule. And now, Holy and Exalted God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. Let it be so. Confirm in heaven my devotion to You, just as I have confessed it on earth. Amen.