Voice: Ting Ai
Today is Monday, 12th of October. Be still in the Lord’s presence.
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Psalm 98
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
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.
Philippians 1:1-11
1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome around AD 60–62. The church in Philippi was the first Christian church Paul established in Europe, during his second missionary journey, as recorded in Acts 16.
As Paul begins his letter, he tells the Christians in Philippi how precious they are to him:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…” (Philippians 1:3–4)
“I hold you in my heart…” (1:7)
“How I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (1:8)
These are remarkable words. Paul writes as a spiritual father to a family he deeply loves. His words carry a warmth that goes far beyond professional courtesy or good working relationships.
Paul says, “I hold you in my heart.” Imagine saying those words today! Some might be surprised or even feel uncomfortable. Yet, in their context, Paul’s meaning is clear. His love is pure, Christ-centred and deeply pastoral. This is the language of Christian affection.
This was not a one-way relationship. The Philippians also loved Paul. They prayed for him, supported him financially and stood by him during his imprisonment. There was a mutual bond of affection that held them together.
A local church is a community, and it can bring about change in the world around it. But at its heart, the church is a gospel community. The gospel gives us our identity and shapes our life together. Such love is one of the distinguishing marks of a healthy church. Our unity reaches beyond shared hobbies, social class, educational background or language. We belong to one another because we belong to Christ.
The gospel is the good news that God, in His love, sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again, offering forgiveness, new life and reconciliation with God to all who believe in Him.
This is why Paul speaks of their “partnership in the gospel.” The Greek word koinonia, often translated as “fellowship,” carries the sense of sharing and participation. Here, it describes their shared commitment to the gospel—a partnership expressed through prayer, generosity, service and love.
This was what bound them together. Even imprisonment and distance could not break that bond. This deep commitment to the Gospel bound them together. It is more than just friendship or even spiritual friendship. There were simply Christians: followers of Christ.
Reflect on this. Our common gospel vision can be the basis of unity and bond of affection even with church members whom you do not know very well or are very different from you. They may not be attractive to you or you to them. The glues that bonds all of you is neither you or them. It is the gospel of Christ.
This is why a another litmus test is how we relate to Christians from other churches. If your faith commitment to Christ is not genuine, you will have little basis to bond or fellowship with them. This same thoughts were shared in last Friday’s devotion.
Brothers and sisters, we treasure the church for she is the family of Christ.
We pray the Collect for today:
O God, forasmuch as without you we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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.
Be blessed by this song, We are One Body led by Tom Inglis.
Though we are many
We are one body
We are one body in Christ (repeat)
One faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Binding us together in one cause
One hope in the one God
One father over all
(Other languages)
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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