Happy New Year 2017 of Uncommon Divine Providence that starts ON A COVENANT SUNDAY. Covenant in this context is a lasting and enduring relationship with God. The truth is that God cannot fail because ‘As for God, His way is perfect,’ ‘The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works’ (Ps 18:30, 145:17). You have a part to play and God has His hence, Covenant service provides opportunity for us to renew our covenant relationship with the Unchanging God (Exd 23:25-26; Jn 3:18). When we walk in covenant with God in the light of His word, we become an implement to redemption ‘What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go.’ Covenant with God drives away fears but promotes trust and obedience. Charles Wesley, the youngest son of the 18th child of  Samuel and Susanna Wesley, the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, and ‘taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages’ made very clear the spiritual importance of Covenant service. In the first stanza of hymn 749, Methodist Hymn Book, Charles Wesley provides a renewing invitational opening hymn for Covenant Service: ‘Come, let us use the grace divine, And all with one accord, In a perpetual covenant join ourselves to Christ the Lord.’ The hymn provides a pointer to the spiritual meaning of Covenant as a call to become a renewed implement in and for God’ s mission and evangelism.

Covenant as an agreement and proposal restated many times in the Scripture is about God saying ‘I agree to be your God and you agree to be my people’ hence, it has physical and spiritual implications (Gen 2:16, 17; 3:4-19). Ours is a generation of covenant breakers and victims of physical and spiritual suffering and death (Is 24:4-20, Ex 9:4-6, Mal 2, Gal 3:10-11). God initiates the covenant because of His love and in response to human well-being, needs, problems and curses caused by sin. Because of our human sinful nature, Jesus had become this covenant, the most profound agreement of God and humanity possible for remission of sin (Jn 3:16). Covenant Service is a call to renew our life in Christ ‘redeemed from sin by Him, and through Him, consecrated to God.  Upon this life we have entered, having been admitted into that New Covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which He sealed with His own blood, that it might stand for ever.’ We are consecrated to God through Christ alone, The Redeemer.

Covenant Service summons us to covenanting disciplines, personal renewal in  ‘the form of a direct transaction with God in which an existing commitment to discipleship was confirmed and strengthened.’ Covenant service prepares us for our continuing journey of Christian faith which according to John Wesley ‘is the right relationship of the believer to the living God.’ In covenant with God, we ‘give up ourselves to, through Jesu’s power, His name to glorify.’ Covenant service calls us not to cast God’s word behind, but to apply the blood of Jesus ‘which takes our sins away; And register our name on high, And keep us to that day,’ the Second Coming of Jesus.

In our Gospel reading for today, Matthew is connecting all that was involved with Jesus’exodus. Matthew chapter 2 is essentially about how Herod killed the infants in Bethlehem, and how the holy family escaped Herod’s terror attack by going to Egypt, and then by settling down in Nazareth. Herod represents impediment, the dark side of the gospel and ‘reminds us Jesus didn’t enter a world of sparkly Christmas cards or a world of spiritual sentiment. Jesus enters a world of real pain, of serious dysfunction, a world of brokenness and political oppression.’

Covenant service summons us to join Joseph’s group in fellowship sweet with God, hearing, implementing, and obeying God’s voice, doing what He says and going where He sends. ‘Never fear, only trust and obey,’ especially in a secular world where the Biblical Truth and evangelism about the Second ‘Coming of the Messiah would not be welcomed by everyone.’ In a world of Josephs and Herods, the Good News is that in Matthew 2, we ‘gains the immediate sense that God the Father (Covenant keeping God) was superintending all the details about the birth and childhood of Jesus.’ Just like in Herod’s days, there are concerted efforts and lies to destroy and decline the Gospel of Christ and to prevent the fulfilment of the New Covenant. Satan and ‘other tyrants in different ages’ and localities are also eager and willing to destroy believers in order to destroy the work that God seemed to be doing. Just as Herod simply stands for anti – Christ instrument, Covenant service summons Josephs, those that want to stand for the Gospel to arise and renew our covenant relationship with God, laying and surrendering everything upon the altar.

In a world where the kingdom is in collision and some confusion in the Church, Covenant service calls us to answer the question, ‘Who are you? What are you? Are you Joseph or Herod? Are you an impediment or implement to redemption? Are you filled with the fear of Herod or faith of Mary and Joseph? Remember, the New Year 2017 is like an unwritten chapter of a book, waiting to be filled with tests and testimonies. Covenant service calls us to discover a new spiritual and missional horizons. Egypt could be a house of bondage to Israel, yet it is to be a place of adoption and refuge to Jesus. I pray for someone, God will make the worst places and times in the New Year 2017 serve the best purposes of God for you and His mission in Jesus name. God will preserve you from destruction in the dangers of the New Year. God will provides a hiding place for you and your family and preserve you from being swept away, ‘even when the enemy comes in like a flood’ in Jesus name. God will be present with you in times of distress in the voice guiding you, sending you to safety, healing of your pain. God is saying to someone, in the competitions and challenges of 2017, God and you prevails. Beloved, let us face the reality of an unknown 2017 and ‘future with the Good News that we are accompanied by a God Who never abandons us,’ a Covenant keeping God.

Prayer for Turkey and other troubled places: Please remember the victims of the Istanbul Reina nightclub attack in your prayers. At least 39 dead after gunman ‘dressed as Santa’ open fire at New Year’s party.

PRAYER FOR 2017

In 2017, I receive attentiveness to what is holy, without being distracted by trivial things. Pray for openness to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

In 2017, I receive opportunities to learn something new and godly regularly.

For 2017, pray for discernment of how God would like you to set your priorities and the ability to focus on them consistently to fulfil His purposes in your life.

In 2017, pray for the grace to be able to rest, become aware of God’s presence, and enjoy it.

In 2017, pray for peace in all situations, no matter what the circumstances.

In 2017, pray for freedom from all that burdens you – past mistakes, fears, destructive habits, hurts other people have inflicted, and more.