First Sunday In 2026

On this first Lord’s Day Sunday of a very fresh and young New Year, we come, mindful that this is the Sunday being celebrated in many Churches as Covenant Sunday. It’s the time when as believers, we are reminded that our lives have been covenanted to God. Our God, Jehovah, is a covenant making and covenant keeping God and we are not just brought to think of Him in this way, but we are led into the solemnly renewing of our vows to be subjected to Him and serve Him with unquestionable obedience. Although these may not be the exact words used by other covenant-renewing disciples and servants of our Lord, the spirit and sentiments are the same, that of unequivocally giving ourselves to God.

For all who have not had the opportunity to renew their commitment to God, will you now take this moment to give your lives in renewal to Him in this covenant response? For those who have already renewed your covenant, will you also take time to offer yourself to God? You can never ever offer yourself to God too often. Learn from God Himself. Does He not daily offer Himself to you, pledging His love and faithfulness to be your God?

Come one, come all who truly want to serve and love the Lord and offer yourself to Him.

I am no longer my own but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for You, or laid aside for You, exalted for You, or brought low for You; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.  Amen.

Yes, today is celebrated as Covenant Sunday, but we must not forget that today is also being celebrated as Epiphany Sunday in many traditions, especially the Eastern traditions. In this light, we are mindful that during this week, many churches celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps friends, and other people whom you may know, or even you yourself, celebrate the sixth of January as The Feast of the Epiphany. Focus here is on Jesus being manifested to men of the East, referred to as Magi or wise men.

Have you ever stopped to think of these wise men as people who covenanted their lives to God from their epiphany, to seek and serve the King of the Jews? Have you ever stopped to think how these Gentiles, holding on to God’s promise, followed His star, trusted His star and depended on His star, all the way from such a far country? By divine revelation, these Gentiles from the East were told about the Birth of Jesus and immediately gave up much, to make that long and no doubt hazardous journey, through some rough patches, no doubt, to seek the King of the Jews, worship Him and present Him with their precious gifts. Committed to finding Jesus, they found Him, through obedience.

On this first Lord’s Day Sunday in a brand New Year, may we know full submission to our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!