Daily Devotions

At St Nicholas Methodist Church this coming Sunday we will hold our annual Covenant Service that was first was adapted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for the purpose of the renewal of the Christian believer's covenant with God.

The first such service was held on 11 August 1755, in London. 

The Bible is framed with the old and new covenants that God made with his people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the entire Scriptures are permeated with covenant living. The heart of God’s covenant is captured in these words: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” God is united with his people in the context of his unfailing love.

God’s covenant partnership with us is truly remarkable, for how can an unholy people and a holy God come together? This is possible only through the cross of Jesus, by which we are reconciled to God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The covenant between God and humans is a reality through Jesus Christ, our Lord. In Christ, we belong to God!

The great  Henri Nouwen the Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian spoke of Covenant in these terms.

‘When God makes a covenant with us, God says: “I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me, or betray me.” In our society we don’t speak much about covenants; we speak about contracts. When we make a contract with a person, we say: “I will fulfil my part as long as you fulfil yours. When you don’t live up to your promises, I no longer have to live up to mine.” 

Contracts are often broken because the partners are unwilling or unable to be faithful to their terms.‘But God didn’t make a contract with us; God made a covenant with us, and God wants our relationships with one another to reflect that covenant. That’s why marriage, friendship, life in community are all ways to give visibility to God’s faithfulness in our lives together.’

Father, we thank you that you are our God and we are your people. Thank you for providing a way back to your-self by giving of your Son on the cross for us. Amen.