Voice: Bernice
Today is Thursday, 29th of October. Take a moment to be still in His presence.
May Christ the daystar dawn in our hearts
and triumph over the shades of night.
Psalm 15
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
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.
2 Timothy 2:1-7
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Paul used the images of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer to encourage Timothy to remain faithful in ministry. All three share something in common: they require focus, discipline and commitment.
When a soldier puts on his uniform and goes on duty, he sets aside his usual civilian activities. He does not simply sit on a park bench and relax when he has duties to fulfil. He is prepared to endure hardship because he is committed to his calling and wants to please his commanding officer.
Likewise, a doctor understands that certain responsibilities come with the job. He would not sit in a public food court eating bak chor mee while wearing surgical gloves and a gown used in an operation. Professional standards shape his conduct, even when observing them is inconvenient.
An athlete must know and follow the rules. He may have trained hard and be in excellent condition on competition day. But if he commits a false start or passes the baton outside the designated exchange zone, he risks disqualification. Ability and preparation do not excuse disregarding the rules.
A farmer understands the seasons. The window for planting or harvesting can be short. He does not choose to go on holiday at the height of the harvest. He works hard when the season demands it, knowing that delay could mean losing the crop.
Each picture highlights a different aspect of faithfulness: the soldier’s wholehearted devotion, the athlete’s discipline and the farmer’s hard work. Together, they show the focus and commitment Timothy needed in his calling as a pastor.
What about you? What role or calling has God entrusted to you? What distractions must you set aside? What responsibilities require your faithful attention?
We have a war to fight, a race to run and a harvest to bring in. If people approach their earthly responsibilities with such commitment and care, let us do no less in our service to the Lord.
We end with this collect by Cranmer:
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
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, Restore my Soul by Vertical Worship Band.
Restore my soul, revive my heart
Renew my life in every part
Reveal to me what sin remains
Then lead me to the cross again
Restore my soul, revive my heart
Renew my life in every part
Reveal to me what sin remains
Then lead me to the cross again
At the cross I’ll find the way
To live the life Your hand has made
So find me there, Lord, and help me stay
In true surrender with You, my Savior
Relight the fire that burned so strong
Reminding me what You have done
My one request is to be changed, Lord
So lead me to the cross again
At the cross I’ll find the way
To live the life Your hand has made
So find me there, Lord, and help me stay
In true surrender with You, my Savior
So find me there, Lord, and help me stay
In true surrender with You, my Savior
With You my Savior
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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