I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
– Glen Ballard & Siedah Garrett
This Sunday, we’re beginning a new worship series based on the book One Faithful Promise: The Wesleyan Covenant for Renewal by Megrey deVega. deVega takes an in-depth at the evolution of John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer Service. Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, developed this prayer and subsequent service to remind the people called Methodists that they belong to God. They were to resist trying to be in control of their lives and instead submit themselves completely to Christ in a sincere Covenant relationship.
The response of those early Methodists to the Covenant Service was that they grew closer in their relationships with God. The Covenant Service eventually was something that those early Methodist Societies celebrated at the beginning of the New Year.
Wesley developed steps that people should take before renewing their Covenant with God. The first step is to confide in God. Here’s how Wesley directed Methodists to prepare:
First, set apart some time, more than once, to be spent in secret before the Lord.
– In seeking earnestly God’s special assistance and gracious acceptance of you.
– In considering distinctly all the conditions of the covenant, as they have been placed before you.
– In searching your hearts whether you either have already or can now freely make such a closure with God in Christ, as you’ve been exhorted to do.
– In special, consider what your sins are and examine whether you can resolve to avoid them all (even those that most cross your interests and corrupt inclinations) as the rule of your whole life.
Be sure you are clear in these matters; see that you don’t lie to God.
As you can see, Wesley doesn’t beat around the bush. He cuts right to the heart of the matter and challenges those early Methodists to take a clear-eyed look at themselves and their relationships with Christ. He wants to make sure that they are honest before the Lord in renewing this sacred Covenant.
I hope you’ll join me as we begin the journey of examining Wesley’s Covenant Prayer and how it applies to our lives and relationships with Christ. It will be an opportunity for us to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves what changes we can make to grow more in love with God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
-Pastor Kevin