Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Monday, 26th of January. As we begin another week, let us 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 147:13-20
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!
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.
Phillipians 3:7-11
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
That I May Gain Christ
If you have been a Christian for some time, do you ever look back and reflect on how that fateful decision to follow Christ has brought you to where you are today?
Along the way, you have made countless small decisions and perhaps a few major ones. Together, they have shaped your life into what it is now. What a journey it has been. For those who are first-generation Christians, life often feels clearly divided into two chapters: before Christ and after Christ.
Few of us can claim an illustrious past like Paul’s, which he lists so confidently in Philippians 3:4–6. Yet Paul tells us that he now regards all of this as “dung” when compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. His choice of words is intentionally vivid — so vivid that a more literal English rendering would sound rather out of place in a devotion like this.
Paul is not saying that his past experiences, training, or achievements were meaningless. On the contrary, they profoundly shaped him and prepared him for his calling — to lead the Church and to write letters that would form much of the New Testament. But these things no longer defined his identity or aspiration.
Paul had one overriding desire: to know Christ. Everything else became secondary, even expendable, “in order that I may gain Christ.” After his conversion, Paul’s life became a single-minded pursuit of Jesus. I doubt he kept count of how many churches he planted or how many letters he wrote. He was too focused on Christ to measure his achievements. The fruits of his ministry were almost incidental to his deeper longing.
So what about us?
A new year has only just begun. What are your aims and ambitions for this season? Do they include a growing desire to know Jesus more deeply — to grow in intimacy with him, to hear his voice more clearly, to follow him more faithfully?
Pause for a moment and pray. Ask the Lord to renew your love for him. Are there things, ambitions, or even relationships that are dulling or distracting this holy desire?
Commit your life afresh to the Lord —
that, above all else, you too may gain Christ.
We pray the Collect for today:
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power;
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.
In closing, be blessed by this song inspired by Psalm 23, Surely Goodness, Surely Grace by Jayce and the Crossroads.
When shadows fall in the valley steep
I hear your voice Where the echoes sleep
Your rod, your staff
They carry me through
In the darkest night
I’m safe with you
[Pre-chorus]
Oh my soul
Don’t you fear
His love is strong He is near
[Chorus]
Still waters run deep, your peace overflows
My cup is alive, my spirit knows
Surely goodness, surely grace
Will follow me all my days
He spread a table in the face of foes
Anoint my head
Till the blessings show
Green pastures call I rest in your name
Through every storm
You stay the same
[Pre-chorus]
Oh my heart Let it sing
He’s my shepherd He’s my king
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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