Daily Devotion

Reflection: Terry
Voice: Li Huan

Love one another

Audio

Today is Friday, 6th of June.

We start today with the the opening part of the 1662 version of the Book of Common Prayer. One blessing of praying these ancient prayers is to know that millions have used them worldwide from many centuries ago.

Let’s pray:

Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of almighty God our heavenly Father, but confess them with a humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart, to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to almighty God:

Almighty and most merciful Father, 
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. 
We have followed too much the devices and desires 
of our own hearts. 
We have offended against your holy laws. 
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, 
and we have done those things which we ought not 
to have done; 
and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. 
O Lord, have mercy upon us. 
Spare all those who confess their faults. 
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises 
declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, 
that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, 
to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

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The Scripture Reading is taken from 1 John 4: 7-12

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 
⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 
⁹ In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 
¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 
¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 
¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

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Reflection

The reality of human relationships is that we often find ourselves analysing the people around us. Some say this tendency is stronger in our Asian culture—others believe it’s simply human nature.

We size people up, form assumptions about their character, and put them into categories. It’s as if we’re constantly writing silent report cards on those around us. Sometimes, it’s not even based on personal experience—just hearsay, or the echo of gossip that colours our impressions before we’ve had the chance to truly know someone.

But what if our Christian calling is not to analyse, but to love?

John reminds us of something simple yet profound: “We love because He first loved us.” God didn’t wait until we were good enough. He loved us because He is our Creator, our Father—full of grace and compassion. His love was unconditional.

What would happen if we started each day rooted in that truth? That we are deeply, undeservedly loved by God.

Then, with hearts anchored in His love, we ask for His help to love others—not based on their strengths or likability, but simply because they are also His children. Whether they are easy to love or not is beside the point. Just love.

As John exhorts us:
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

May that be our quiet, daily prayer:
“Lord, as You have loved me, help me to love others—graciously, humbly, and without condition.”

Amen.

We end with this exhortation, drawn from Colossians 3: 12-14:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Be blessed by this son, Love One Another.

Love one another for love is of God
He who loves is born of God and knows God
He who does not love does not know God
For God is love God is love
Love one another for love is of God (Love bears all things)
He who loves is born of God and knows God (Believes all things)
He who does not love does not know God (Love hopes all things)
For God is love (endures all things) God is love

Link to this Morning Office