Voice: Doreen
Today is Friday, 30th of October. The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.
Psalm 17:1-7
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
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
20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Honorable Vessels
A large household in Paul’s day would contain many kinds of vessels: cups, bowls, jars, bins, and pots. Some were made of precious metals and beautifully designed for special meals or receiving guests. Others were made of simpler materials for everyday tasks, including collecting refuse or human waste.
Each vessel served a purpose. Paul uses this familiar household picture to illustrate the difference between honourable and dishonourable use. If we turn away from dishonourable conduct and set ourselves apart for the Lord, we can become vessels for honourable use—holy, useful to our Master, and ready for every good work.
The emphasis here is on spiritual cleanliness. Whatever our skills, wealth, or social standing, we need hearts and lives that are ready for the Lord’s purposes.
Immediately in verse 22, Paul tells Timothy to flee “youthful passions”. These can include uncontrolled sexual desires, but the surrounding verses suggest a wider application: pride, impatience, impulsiveness, the craving for approval, and the desire to win arguments. These tendencies are hardly confined to the young. Many of us carry them into adulthood.
Our modern city offers countless opportunities to feed these appetites. Advertising, entertainment, and social pressures often encourage us to satisfy every desire and defend every opinion. Paul’s instruction to “flee” calls for decisive action. Sometimes we need to leave a situation, step away from an argument, or break a habit that draws us towards sin.
Yet fleeing is only part of his instruction. We must also pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. We need both a clear direction and companions who help us walk faithfully.
Setting ourselves apart for the Lord therefore requires intention. Through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and daily obedience, we learn to recognise what corrupts us and cultivate what pleases Him.
The following verses show what this looks like in our relationships: kindness towards everyone, patience when wronged, and gentleness when correcting others. A pure heart becomes visible in the way we treat people, especially those who disagree with us.
Our abilities have their place, but they cannot replace a faithful walk with the Lord. As we draw close to Him and allow Him to shape our character, we become ready for the good work He gives us.
Walk closely with Him, and be ready to serve Him honourably in your home, church, and society.
We pray this collect:
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.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Sermon On The Mount by April Cheah
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are the grieving acquainted with tears
For they will find Him near
Blessed are the meek and gentle
They shall inherit the earth
Blessed are the starving for justice and light
They shall be satisfied
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
All those who seek will find
Blessed are the mercy givers
They will receive it in turn
Blessed are hearts that are pure
They will see Your risen reality
Stir us to love like You love us
Free us to give what we keep
Knowing our Father sees the secret things
Our treasure is in the King
Our treasure is in the King
Lord speak to my worries and help cut me free
Of this bondage to comfort and vanity
When I see You again on that one final day will You know me
I want to know You
Will You know me
Help me know You
Blessed are the peacemakers
They are Yours for You call and they come
Those blessed to suffer for righteousness’ sake
Your kingdom is theirs to partake
Lead us to walk with the suffering
Restore us to choose the harder road
That we will hear and do the word of Christ
Your way alone leads to life
Your way alone leads to life
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
Treasures where You are cannot be destroyed
And Your way alone leads to life
Visit this link for more information about the song writer and message behind this song.
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. Unless otherwise stated, the reflections are written by Revd Wong.
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 info@mpcc.org.sg. We also welcome donations to MPCC. Information on how you may give can be found in this link.
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