Voice: Noppadon
Today is Thursday, 4th of September. We also commemorate the ministry of Robert Morrison, who played a major role as a missionary in China and Malacca in the early 19th century.
As we start another day, let us observe a moment of silence.
We pray:
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night
and turns the shadow of death into the morning:
Drive far from us all wrong desires,
incline our hearts to keep your law,
and guide our feet into the way of peace;
that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day,
we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
We read Psalm 90:1-12
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
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.
Reflection
Psalm 90 – Numbering Our Days
Psalm 90 is often read at wakes or funeral services. It is a sober reminder of our mortality. The psalmist lifts our eyes to the truth that only God is eternal: “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (v.2). Generations come and go, the world changes its face—vegetation, buildings, climate, culture—but God remains our dwelling place in every age.
This truth calls us to examine how we live. Life is short. We are soon gone and “fly away.” To God, even a thousand years is like a single day. Like grass that flourishes in the morning but withers by evening, we too fade away. From dust we came, and to dust we return.
Because life is lived under God’s full sight, we cannot waste it. The psalmist laments our sinful tendencies—our selfishness, cruelty, and wastefulness. He asks, “Who considers the power of Your anger, and Your wrath according to the fear of You?” (v.11).
So how should we live? The psalmist prays: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (v.12).
Here it is helpful to distinguish chronos and kairos. Chronos is clock time, the linear counting of days, months, and years—from our birthday to our final breath. Kairos, however, is God’s time. It is not bound by calendars or clocks. Kairos moments are when God breaks into our lives, when His purposes are being fulfilled.
To “number our days” is not merely to count them, but to discern God’s purpose in them. We grow wise when we see our fleeting lives from God’s eternal viewpoint.
So whether your life is 50, 70, or 90 years—don’t waste it. Treasure each season. Look for God’s hand at work. Live with purpose.
Additional reflection:
As a day to commemorate the life and ministry of Robert Morrison, we thank God for the legacy he has left behind. His tireless lifelong labour in translating the Bible into Chinese has left behind a lasting legacy for the work of the Gospel in China. Macau and Southeast Asia. From who and where we are, may we too find ways to extend His Kingdom.
We pray the Collect for the day:
O God, you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we,
running the way of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
Be blessed by this song, From Everlasting
O God, before the mountains were brought forth
Or days of spring and summer filled the earth
From everlasting, You are God
We dwell beneath the stars in ancient skies
A thousand years are nothing in Your sight
From everlasting, You are God
And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God
O God, when joy and tragedy collide
And loss reminds us life is but a sigh
From everlasting, You are God
O God of light our ways are known to You
But by Your grace You’re making all things new
So satisfy us in our numbered days
Establish every effort while we wait
From everlasting, You are God
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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