Voice: Doreen
Today is Thursday, 24th of July. As we start another day, let us observe a moment of silence.
We pray:
O Almighty God, who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We read Psalm 11
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face
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.
The Scripture Reading is 2 Corinthians 3: 1-6
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Reflection
A Letter Others Can Read
2 Corinthians 3:1–6
When someone writes a letter of recommendation, it usually includes positive testimonies about a person’s character and mentions their accomplishments.
In this passage, Paul turns to the Corinthian believers and essentially says, “You are our letter of recommendation, known and read by everyone.”
But these letters are not written on parchment with ink. They are written in flesh and blood, not “with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
In other words, the lives of the Corinthian Christians speak. Others can read the message of Christ through them.
We know from Paul’s letters that the Corinthian church was far from perfect. They struggled with division, immorality, and immaturity. And yet, they bore the marks of transformation. They were trophies of grace. Their lives testified to the reality of Christ at work within them.
Paul goes on to contrast two kinds of ministry:
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Religiosity without the Spirit becomes lifeless. But where the Spirit moves, there is change, power, and love.
The early Christians were often misunderstood and marginalized. Yet they stood out in the ancient world—not through force or fame, but through love.
Tertullian, a Christian writer in the 2nd century, quoted the pagans as saying, “See how they love one another!”
Paul’s confidence in these believers was not based on their performance, but on Christ’s work in them. And he was right. The Church would go on to impact the world—not by its might, but through the Spirit working in changed lives.
So how does this speak to us today?
You may not feel very impressive. You may not think of yourself as a “letter” worth reading. But Christ says, “You are the light of the world.”
You may be the only Gospel someone ever reads.
Your life—flawed as it may be—is still a living testimony of God’s grace. The Spirit is writing something in you, and through you.
So ask Him today:
“Spirit of the living God, write Your truth on the tablet of my heart. Let my life be readable, legible, and radiant—for Your glory.”
Let your life illuminate what words cannot always say.
We end with this Collect:.
Almighty God,
you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts,
may shine forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Go light your world
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
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
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