Voice: Mylene
Today is Monday, 20th of July. Be still in the Lord’s presence.
We start by praying the Collect for Purity:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 3
1 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! Selah
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.
Luke 22:24-30
24A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Who Is the Greatest?
Even in the Upper Room, on the very night before Jesus went to the cross, the disciples found themselves arguing. Luke tells us:
“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24)
It is an age-old question that surfaces whenever people come together:
“Who among us is the greatest?”
Whether in families, schools, workplaces, churches, or nations, we instinctively create a pecking order. We compare ourselves with others. Who is more influential? Who has more authority? Who is more successful? Who deserves greater recognition?
This impulse runs deep within the human heart. We naturally rank people according to their status, achievement, wealth, education, popularity, or power. We are drawn to hierarchy because we often measure our worth by where we stand in relation to others.
The tragedy is that this argument took place not in a boardroom or a royal court, but around the table where Jesus had just broken bread, spoken of His coming sacrifice, and instituted the Lord’s Supper. While their Master was preparing to give His life, His disciples were debating who deserved the highest place.
Jesus responded by completely redefining greatness. In His kingdom, greatness is not measured by how many people serve you, but by how willingly you serve others. Elsewhere He even pointed to a little child—someone with no status or influence in the ancient world—as the model of greatness. The greatest is not the one seated at the head of the table, but the one willing to take the servant’s place.
The world’s ladder of success is climbed through self-promotion. Christ’s kingdom is entered through humility, self-giving, and sacrificial love.
It is a radical vision of greatness.
Today, whether you are in a classroom, an office, a boardroom, or even a church meeting, you will encounter this same human struggle. Conversations can be driven by the desire to elevate ourselves or diminish others. Recognition is often pursued. Credit is carefully guarded. Ambition can quietly shape our words and actions.
Jesus calls us to a different way.
He, the Lord of all, washed His disciples’ feet. He, the King of glory, gave His life on a cross. If we truly say we are following Him, then greatness is no longer about being noticed, admired, or promoted. It is about serving faithfully, loving generously, and giving ourselves away for the sake of others.
Today, ask yourself not, “How can I become greater?” but “How can I make Christ greater through the way I serve others?”
We pray the prayer of St. Ephrem of Syria (306 – 373):
O Lord of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, faint-heartedness, lust for power and idle talk. Instead grant me, your servant, the spirit of purity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and faults and not to judge my neighbor, for you are truly blessed forever. Amen.
Be blessed by this Graham Kendrick classic, The Servant King.
From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
‘Yet not My will but Yours,’ He said
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other’s needs to prefer
For it is Christ we’re serving
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1983 Thankyou Music
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 terrywong@anglican.org.sg
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