Voice: Ting Ai
Today is Monday, 11th of August. Take a moment to be still in His presence.
We pray:
Almighty and everlasting Father,
we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings;
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 27:1-4
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
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.
James 2:8-13
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Reflection
Love Without Favouritism
It is very difficult to be impartial. Whether we realise it or not, we often treat some people better than others. We are wired to prioritise those who are “ours”—ourselves, our families, our close friends.
And socially, we make distinctions too. If someone appears wealthy or influential, we tend to defer to them. James, writing in his letter, gave a striking example: imagine a church usher who seats a well-dressed visitor in the place of honour, but tells a poorly dressed one to sit on the floor or stay out of the way. That scenario is sadly not far from reality—even in our churches.
These misdeeds may not feel like serious sins. After all, they seem minor, even understandable.
But consider this true and sobering story:
Rudolf Höss was a devoted husband and father. He was known to be warm and affectionate with his children, often home for dinner and even cooking for the family. He tucked his kids into bed each night and kissed his wife each morning.
He was also the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz during World War II. By day, he supervised the mass murder of thousands of Jews and other prisoners. By night, he was a loving family man.
How can such love and such cruelty exist in one person? It is shocking. And yet, it reveals a deep truth: favouritism is not the absence of love—it is the selective giving of love. We may care deeply for “our own,” and yet be indifferent—or even cruel—towards others.
This is why the Bible warns us so clearly against partiality. God’s love is not selective. His mercy extends to all—rich or poor, clean or dirty, worthy or unworthy in the eyes of the world.
As Zechariah 7:9–10 declares:
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’”
God does not call us merely to feel love, but to show it—to everyone. No distinctions. No exceptions.
Take a moment today to pause and pray. Ask the Lord to help us to see every person as made in the image of God—worthy of honour, kindness, compassion and mercy.
We join in this prayer by St Augustine:
Look upon us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of your brightness. Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom. All our desire is known unto you, therefore perfect what you have begun, and what your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek your face, turn your face unto us and show us your glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied, and our peace shall be perfect. Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Instrument of Peace by Jean Tan
Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith
Where there is quiet despair, hope
Where there is darkness, let me sow light
Where there is sadness, joy
Lord make me your instrument of peace
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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