Voice: Keith Lim
Today is Wednesday, 31st of December. We are coming to the end of another year. On this day, we will also remember the life and ministry of John Wycliffe.
We pray:
“Eternal Lord God, we give thanks for bringing us through the changes of time to the beginning of another year.
Forgive us the wrong we have done in the year that is past,
and help us to spend the rest of our days to your honour and glory;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Psalm 102:18-28
Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.
24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before 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.
Colossians 1:24-29
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
“That we may present everyone mature in Christ”
(Colossians 1:28)
Christians do not grow or mature on their own. Growth in Christ almost always comes because someone has chosen to invest in another’s life. This was how St Paul understood his calling. He toiled and struggled with all the energy God supplied to help others grow into maturity in Christ.
As we come to the end of this year, it is worth pausing to reflect:
Has someone invested their time, prayers, and energy to help you grow in your faith?
Or have you, in turn, laboured and persevered to help someone else grow?
Paul reminds us that helping others mature in Christ always comes at a cost. It involves effort, sacrifice, and emotional energy. We must give of ourselves. The fruit does not always appear quickly. Some Christians take a long time to grow. Some even seem to regress despite our best efforts.
Yet Paul teaches us to rejoice even when suffering for the sake of others. Throughout history, many saints have paid a high price so that the Church might be renewed and strengthened.
One such figure is John Wycliffe (1328–1384). A scholar at Oxford University, Wycliffe lived during the time of the Black Death—a period of immense suffering that deeply troubled him. This crisis drove him to search the Scriptures more deeply and earnestly.
Wycliffe came to believe that the supreme authority of the Church was not the pope or ecclesiastical structures, but Scripture itself. He challenged the wealth and political power of the Church and taught that true authority rests not merely in office, but in moral and spiritual integrity. He even questioned established doctrines such as transubstantiation.
Because of this, Wycliffe is often called “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” Though he died peacefully, his ideas ignited a movement that would later shape the Reformation through figures like Jan Hus and, eventually, Martin Luther.
Wycliffe himself was never martyred, but after his death he was condemned as a heretic. His bones were exhumed and burned—a symbolic attempt to erase his influence. Yet his life stands as a testimony of one who toiled and struggled so that the Church might grow toward maturity in Christ.
Like Paul, and like Wycliffe, may we be willing to labour for the growth of others—trusting that God will use our faithfulness, even when we do not immediately see the fruit.
Take a moment to pray. In 2026, will you “toil and struggle” that someone may grow in his or her faith? Remember, like Paul, don’t do this on your own. Let the Spirit energizes you and work powerfully within you.
Join in this Collect for today:
Stir up in us, O God,
the zeal for your Word that inspired your servant John Wycliffe
that we, like him, may boldly challenge stifling systems
and cling to the promises of your power and presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this hymn, Another Year is Dawning. And have a blessed New Year!
1. Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.
Another year of leaning
Upon thy loving breast,
Of ever deeper trusting,
Of Quiet, happy rest.
2. Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness
Enlightened by thy face.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.
3. Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
On Earth or else in Heaven,
Another year for thee!
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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