Daily Devotion

Voice: Doreen

Today is 15th of April, Wednesday after the Second Sunday of Easter. Take a moment to be still.

The Opening Sentence
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. – COLOSSIANS 3:1

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Psalm 16:1-8

¹ Preserve me, O God, for in you I  take refuge.

² I say to the  Lord , “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

³ As for  the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

⁴ The sorrows of those who run after  another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or  take their names on my lips.

⁵ The  Lord  is  my chosen portion and my  cup;
you hold my  lot.

⁶    The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷ I bless the  Lord  who  gives me counsel;
in  the night also my  heart instructs me.

⁸    I have  set the  Lord  always before me;
because he is at my  right hand, I shall not be  shaken.

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.

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Colossians 2:8-15

 ⁸See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 
⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 
¹⁰and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 
¹¹In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 
¹²having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 
¹³And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 
¹⁴by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 
¹⁵He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

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The Enduring Claim

Recently, a notable article published by CNN highlighted the evolving perspective of historian Tom Holland. Once a skeptic, Holland has become increasingly receptive to the truth claims of Christianity, particularly the resurrection of Jesus, after extensive study of its profound impact on history and culture. He posits that many foundational modern values, such as human dignity and human rights, are deeply rooted in Christian thought. Furthermore, Holland emphasizes that the early Christians’ bold and costly witness to the resurrection makes it exceedingly difficult to dismiss as mere myth.

In an age often characterized by secular inertia and a search for meaning, the CNN article presents Easter not merely as a religious tradition, but as a radical and enduring claim that continues to shape both personal belief and the moral framework of society. This kind of nuanced, pro-Christian discourse is a rare find within mainstream secular media, which often reflects philosophies and cultural values that can subtly erode faith convictions.

Paul’s timeless warning to the Colossians in the first century resonates powerfully today: we risk being taken captive by “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

In our contemporary context, Christians can similarly be ensnared by society’s pervasive obsessions with material wealth, transient comforts, rapid technical advancements, and the allure of artificial intelligence. While these manifestations may differ from those of antiquity, their essence remains the same: they are expressions of “human tradition and elemental spirits of the world.” These are indeed amazing products of human intelligence and creativity, yet they ultimately fall short if we idolize them and center our lives around them.

Instead, as the CNN article implicitly suggests, today’s scientific and cultural progress can serve as a powerful platform for Christians. It allows us to engage in meaningful discussions about how the “ancient paths” of Christian truth continue to illuminate our origins and point our world toward the transformative work of Christ. This perspective transforms potential threats into opportunities, enabling a robust and relevant witness in a rapidly changing world.

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Will you pray and ask the Lord for wisdom to engage with seekers about the claims of Christ?

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Collect from the Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness
that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen

Amen.

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Two sister sing this beautiful & meaningful Easter version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. These Easter lyrics were written by Kelley Mooney,

A crown of thorns placed on His head
He knew that He would soon be dead
He said did you forget me
Father did you?

They nailed Him to a wooden cross
Soon all the world would feel the loss
Of Christ the King before us, Hallelujah

Hallelujah

He hung His head and prepared to die
Then lifted His face up to the sky
Said I am coming home now
Father to you

A reed which held His final sip
Was gently lifted to His lips
He drank His lastand gave His soul to glory

Hallelujah

The soldier who had used his sword
To pierce the body of our Lord
Said truly this was
Jesus Christ our Savior

He looked with fear upon his sword
Then turned to face his Christ and Lord
Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Took from His head the thorny crown
And wrapped Him in a linen gown
And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb
The holes in His hands, His feet and side
Now in our hearts we know He died
To save us from ourselves oh Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Three days went by again they came
To move the stone to bless the slain
With oil and spice anointing Hallelujah
But as they went to move the stone
They saw that they were not alone
But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Link to the full 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 terrywong@anglican.org.sg