Voice: Bernice
Today is Thursday, 5th of November. Take a moment to be still in His presence.
We pray:
Blessed are you, Sovereign God, creator of all,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
You founded the earth in the beginning
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the fullness of time you made us in your image,
and in these last days you have spoken to us
in your Son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us
let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,
your Spirit ever renew our lives
and your praises ever be on our lips. Amen.
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.
Revelation 3:7-13
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
An Open Door
The One who holds the key of David, “who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens,” makes a promise to the church in Philadelphia:
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.”
We do well to remember that the churches receiving these messages were communities living without the security and resources many churches enjoy today. They were likely to be smaller than your local church. Some faced poverty, hostility and persecution. Jesus says to Philadelphia, “You have but little power.”
Yet he adds, “You have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Their limited strength had not prevented their faithfulness. The Lord who knew their circumstances assured them that their future rested in his hands. He held the key. No opponent could exclude them from what he opened to them.
Looking at these vulnerable communities, an observer might have wondered: would they survive?
Yet the Christian faith continued to spread. Around AD 112, the Roman governor Pliny reported that Christianity had reached beyond the cities into villages and the countryside in his province of Bithynia-Pontus. During his investigations, he learned that Christians gathered before dawn to sing to Christ and pledged themselves to lives of honesty and faithfulness. Their allegiance to Jesus found expression in worship and everyday conduct. Pliny, Letters 10.96
Later in the second century, Tertullian reported outsiders saying of Christians, “See … how they love one another … and how they are ready to die for one another.” He described their practical support for the poor, orphans, the elderly and those imprisoned for their faith. Tertullian, Apology 39
These accounts help us to appreciate how communities with little worldly power could bear a compelling influence.
This brings us to a word used repeatedly in the seven letters: “works.” The Greek word, erga, means deeds or actions. When Jesus says, “I know your works,” he sees how a church actually lives—its conduct, service and response to him. In Philadelphia, he sees a people who keep his word and remain faithful to his name.
How we live matters. Our witness will be imperfect, but can others recognise our faith through our honesty, patience and care? Does our life together give substance to what we proclaim?
Do we also value the church community to which we belong? It is easy to take our parish for granted. Yet its shared life grows through people who gather faithfully for worship, care for one another, participate in small groups and ministries, and give generously. Through these ordinary acts, we help one another remain faithful and welcome others into the fellowship of Christ.
There is an open door before us because Christ holds the key. Let us receive his assurance with gratitude and respond to his call:
“Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”
We pray the Collect for All Saints Day, reminding ourselves of the shoulders we stand on:
Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship i
n the mystical body of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you; 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.
In closing, feel free to sing along in this great hymn, The Church’s One Foundation, sung by a team from Christ Church, Bellingham.
1. The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation,
By water and the word;
From Heav’n he came and sought her
To be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her,
And for her life he died.
2. Elect from ev’ry nation,
Yet one o’er all the Earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev’ry grace endued.
3. ‘Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forever more;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
4. Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
In love may dwell with Thee.
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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