Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Monday, 22nd of September. Whether you are in your room, driving or taking public transport, take a moment to be aware of His presence wherever you are.
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 3
O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!
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.
Mark 9:42-50
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Refine Me
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for emphasis. Jesus often used it as a teaching device—for example, “a camel going through the eye of a needle” or “hating one’s parents.” These sayings are not meant to be taken literally, but to shock the listener into grasping the seriousness of His point. We do the same in daily speech: “We’ll die soon under this heat!” or “This plate of char kway teow will stop your heart!”
In Mark 9:42–50, we encounter several striking hyperboles:
- Tie a heavy stone to yourself and drown in the sea.
- Cut off your hand.
- Cut off your feet.
- Gouge out your eye.
Some Christians in earlier centuries misunderstood these words and even resorted to acts of self-mutilation for the sake of holiness. But as early as the Council of Nicaea (4th century), the Church officially rejected such literal interpretations as misguided.
These images make sense when we see them as Jesus’ way of driving home the seriousness and eternal consequences of sin. The modern Christian needs to hear this afresh: do we take sin in our lives as seriously as Jesus does?
Reflect for a moment:
- Are there habitual sins we need to confront more intentionally?
- Do we truly desire freedom from them?
- What concrete steps can we take? Perhaps it means confiding in a trusted friend, seeking accountability, or setting safeguards against temptation.
Jesus also says, “Everyone will be salted with fire.” This is the refining work of the Lord in our lives. Trials, small group fellowship, or even the gentle rebuke of a brother or sister may be the “salt” God uses to purify and strengthen you.
Let the Lord refine us. Take sin seriously. And walk in the freedom and holiness Christ desires for us.
We end with the Collect for the Day:
Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
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, Refine me, Lord
Refine me Lord like gold in fire
Burn away what you don’t desire
Melt my heart reshape my soul
Make me pure make me whole
Refine me Lord till I shine bright
Guide me through both day and night
Strip away the dark the wrong
Fill my spirit with Your song
Take my hands they’re Yours to hold
Mold my life make it bold
Wash my sins make me new
Lead me closer Lord to You
Through the trials through the pain
Your love flows like cleansing rain
Though I’m weak You make me strong
In Your arms I belong
Refine me Lord till nothing’s mine
All I am is Yours divine
In Your grace I’ll stand amazed
Forever singing endless praise
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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