For many of us a New Year means a new beginning, a fresh start. How many of

us have already told ourselves that – in 2025 things will be different? Every year many

people make New Year’s resolutions. And every year many of those resolutions are

broken.

Our service today is not about resolutions. Our service is about renewing our

covenants and the basic commitments of our lives. This morning, we are to going

resolve together, with God’s help, to be the people God wants us to be in our

relationship with Him and with each other.

As we renew our commitments this morning, we begin with the most basic. We

renew our covenant with God.

About 15 years ago a Northwest airlines flight carrying 144 passengers from San

Diego to Minneapolis overflew the airport by 150 miles. While air traffic controllers and

airline officials desperately tried to make contact, the pilots remained unresponsive.

Officials at the White House were closely monitoring the situation. Four fighter jets were

prepared to intercept the aircraft.

Finally, a stewardess who began pounding on the door of the cockpit got the

pilots attention and the plane got turned around.

So, what happened? Apparently, the experienced pilots become so absorbed

with the new software program on their laptops that they lost track of their destination.

Byron Paulus, in an article in Revive Magazine, says the same thing can happen

to us in our Christian Walk. It is possible to become so passionate about other things

such that our passion for Jesus gets crowded out. In fact, sometimes we don't even

notice that it's happening until someone, or something gets our attention and reminds us

that we have gone way off course.

I think of some first century believers in Asia Minor. There were many things that

beckoned for their attention: the busy marketplace, beautiful buildings, entertainment.

Along with those things came the temptation to pride and perversity. Evil was rampant in

that day as demonstrated by the brothels, the cultic shrines, and the innumerable deities.

But then according to Acts 19 revival came. We read that fear fell upon them.

The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many, who believed, came and

openly confessed their evil deeds. The word of the Lord spread widely and grew in

power.

To put that another way, the apostle Paul preached, and many people

encountered Jesus. The church grew. People fell in love with Jesus. The love of Christ

spread throughout the entire area.

Now fast forward with me 30 years. In Revelation 2, the apostle John tells us

their passion had died down. To the church at Ephesus, we read,

[PP-1] I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know

that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be

apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have

endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against

you: You have forsaken your first love. (Revelation 2:2-4)

While the church at Ephesus was still remarkable in many ways, she had lost her

focus and once again needed revival. Here in the passage, John says the church at

Ephesus had forsaken her first love.

So, what happened? I think it's fair to say that they made a whole lot of little

choices to put something else ahead of Jesus in their lives.

It’s easy for that to happen, isn’t it? That's why it's good to pause as we

approach the threshold of a new year and ask ourselves some questions.

Questions like-am I growing closer to Christ or further away from him?

Am I making daily choices that build my relationship with Jesus or am I making

daily choices that move me further away?

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Do I take time each day to meet with God, to bring him praise, to thank him for

his blessings to tell Him my needs, to read his word, to listen for his voice?

Am I still in love with Jesus or do I need to fall in love with him all over again?

Is there an area of my life that is not fully surrendered to God?

Please join me in a Prayer of Confession –

Lord our God, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are not always

your faithful people. We are not always fully devoted to you. We do not always love you

above all else. Forgive us we pray.

Rekindle with in our hearts a passion to live for you that is strong and true.

And as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the Lord’s supper next

Sunday help us examine our love for you and our neighbors. Do we love you with all our

heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do our lives reflect the fact that we belong to you? Do

we love our neighbors as ourselves? Do we seek to be reconciled with our neighbors in

the case of an offense?

Thank you for the assurance that you give us that if we confess our sins, you are

faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And thank you God for your great love in sending Jesus to this earth to die for

our sins. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for bearing the weight of our sin upon the cross so we

can be reconciled to God. Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts to receive the sacraments.

Help us to be spiritually revived and strengthened in our faith.

I invite you now to join in a responsive reading of recommitment for a new year. It

is printed in your order of worship:

Leader: Trusting in the gracious promises of God, will you seek

to grow in your knowledge and love for the Lord?

ALL: I will.

Leader: With God’s help, will you renounce sin and the power

of evil in your life and in the world?

ALL: I renounce them.

Leader: Who is your Lord and Saviour?

ALL: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour.

Leader: Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and

showing his love?

ALL: God being my helper, I will.

Leader: Do you believe in God the Father?

ALL: I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven

and earth.

Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God

ALL: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who

was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin

Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was

buried. He descended to hell. On the third day he rose again from the

dead; he ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God

the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the

dead.

Leader: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

ALL: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of

saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life

everlasting.