Daily Devotion

Voice: Emily

Today is Friday, 11th of July. As we start another day, let us observe a moment of silence.

We read Psalm 55:17-23

¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
¹⁸ He redeems my soul in safety
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
¹⁹ God will give ear and humble them,
    he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
    and do not fear God.

²⁰ My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;
    he violated his covenant.
²¹ His speech was smooth as butter,
    yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
    yet they were drawn swords.

²² Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

²³ But you, O God, will cast them down
    into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
    shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.

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The Scripture Reading is Romans 13:8-14

⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

¹¹ Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Reflection

The Debt we Owe

No one likes to be in debt. It weighs on us. It makes us feel incomplete—like something is hanging over our heads. Debt reminds us that we owe something, and until that debt is cleared, we don’t feel free.

To be in debt is also to feel vulnerable. When we owe someone, it may feel like they have a hold on us. We value our independence, so being in debt can make us feel like we have become lost it.

That’s why the Bible generally warns against living in debt. But then comes this striking verse from Paul in Romans 13:8:

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other…”

Paul is turning our view of debt upside down. He’s saying there is one debt we can never escape—the debt of love. Loving others isn’t a nice extra we give when we feel generous or when someone deserves it. No—love is what we owe. It’s a standing obligation. I don’t get to choose whether I feel like loving someone; I am commanded to love because love is what they are rightfully due.

This changes how we think about our relationships.

• Love is not optional.
• Love is not a bonus.
• Love is a responsibility.

If you’re struggling to love someone today—in word, thought, or deed—perhaps it’s time to stop thinking of love as a feeling you need to stir up, and start seeing it as a debt you are called to repay.

Will you take a moment now to pray? Ask the Lord for wisdom to understand, and strength to act—to love not just when it’s easy, but even when it’s hard. Because in Christ, we are never truly free from the debt of love.

We end with the Collect which our Lord has asked us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin 
against us.
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and 
the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.

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In closing, be blessed by this song, As I have done for you.

Link to today’s Morning Office

About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.

Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.

For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg