Daily Devotion

Voice: Hali

Today is Friday, the 27th of February. As we come to the close of another week in Lent, let us continue to keep our Lent commitments. We open with the collect for Ash Wednesday:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, 
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness; 
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.

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The appointed psalm for today is Psalm 55. We read verses 1 to 8.

¹ Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;
²     hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
³     because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
    and assail me in their anger.

⁴ My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen on me.
⁵ Fear and trembling have beset me;
    horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;
⁸ I would hurry to my place of shelter,
    far from the tempest and storm.”

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.

Scripture Reading

We continue with our Lenten reading and meditation on the temptations of Jesus. Today we look at the second temptation in Luke 4:5-8:

⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

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The Second Temptation: The Need for Significance

If the first temptation addresses our need for satisfaction, the second speaks to our need for significance.

This goes beyond bread.

Created in the image of God, we are wired for purpose. We live with a sense of destiny. We long to leave behind a legacy. We value reward systems because they tell us how we are doing. In studies, career, and social standing, we seek feedback, approval, affirmation.

So we pursue good grades and job promotions. There is pride and joy when we are called to the podium. This is not necessarily vain glory or the self-seeking attention sometimes associated with social media. At its best, this pursuit reflects a deep human longing to matter.

For Christians, even more so. We seek to live excellently to glorify God. Being involved in ministry or mission is deeply satisfying. It brings lasting meaning to those who are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

All well and good.

But here lies the danger.

Wasn’t reclaiming the world the very reason Jesus came? The devil showed Him “in an instant” all the kingdoms of the world. He would have seen the splendour of Rome and even her eastern rival, the Parthians. If the vision was not merely geographical but a cosmic vision, then it included every kingdom of every age.

Isn’t He the Lord of lords and King of kings?

The devil’s offer was simple:
All this can be Yours — now.

No need for suffering.
No humiliation.
No cross.

The only condition: bow down and worship me.

Like our need for satisfaction, our need for significance can become a doorway to temptation. We may be tempted to “sell our soul to the devil” in subtle ways.

The ends never justify the means.

If we cheat, lie, or undermine classmates and colleagues in the pursuit of success, we are not serving God. We are serving ourselves — or worse, serving the devil himself.

Jesus’ reply is decisive:

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”

If that is true, then the journey matters as much as the destination. Obedience matters more than applause. Faithfulness matters more than visibility.

The cross comes before the crown.

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🌿 Thought for Lent

Take a moment to reflect on your value system and lifestyle.

How are we treating our family members, classmates, colleagues?

In this season of Lent, will we resist the temptation to bad-mouth others? Be more conscious of what you are saying. Break the habit. Instead, learn to speak well of others. And if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything!

Significance that comes from God does not require compromise. It grows quietly in obedience. The path of worship may look slower — but it is the only path that leads to true glory. 

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We pray the Collect for the first Sunday in Lent:

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, 
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; 
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save; 
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

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We end with this song, Lay Down, written and sung by Earnest and Ming Li. You can visit this link for the background of this beautiful song.

LAY DOWN

Every song I can sing
Every gift I can bring 
They count for nothing if I don’t lay me down 

Lay down, lay down
My life I lay down
Lay down, my life I lay down

Every charity known
Every piety shown
I offer nothing if I don’t lay me down

Lay down, lay down
My life I lay down
Lay down, my life I lay down

Let the beauty of worship
And resonant praise 
Be unto Jesus for whom I lay down

Link to full Morning Office