ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
UNITED CHURCH
Daily Devotions
08 September 2025
Paul says, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 1: 14
READING: 1 Timothy 1: 12 – 17
The above reading is from Paul’s letter to Timothy. When our Lord Jesus calls us today very few of us have the privilege to meet Jesus in such a dramatic and personal encounter as Paul did. Paul was an ardent Jew, who had studied the Scriptures of that time, but he was involved in the persecution of Jesus’ new converts to Christianity. He was struck down by a very bright light and a voice from heaven, on the way to Damascus with a very dramatic revelation of Jesus to him, which changed the whole course of his life and brought him into a close and personal relationship with Jesus, Christ Himself. Paul says that even though he was a blasphemer, persecutor and a violent man, Jesus appointed him to His service to take the Gospel to the Greek and Roman empires. A large part of the Letters of the New Testament were written by Paul to the various Churches he had been led to establish. Paul says that Jesus considered him a faithful man, and He poured an abundant grace and love on him. He also said that because Jesus came to the earth to save sinners, he, Paul, was shown great mercy and patience. This had all happened so that others, like us, would come to believe in Jesus through him and receive eternal life. Through Paul’s letters many have come to understand God’s word to us and would discover Christ’s joy in their lives. The Word of God His Son Jesus, and His disciples, which we today receive through the written Word, the Bible, not only promises us complete forgiveness of our sins, but also the promise of Jesus’ presence in our lives and His sustaining grace for us and the joy of eternal life. (Faith for Daily Living)
PRAYER
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. (1 Timothy 1: 17) we thank you for Paul’s written Word, revealing You to us. Amen
09 september 2025
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Luke 8: 8
READING: Matthew 13:1-23
According to Matthew, this was the first parable that Jesus ever spoke. He was walking by the seaside, and, crowded by a throng of people who wished to hear Him, so He climbed into a boat, and sat there to teach.
Perhaps, looking up, He could see a farmer sowing seed up in the fields near the seashore.
So, He tells us of the four different grounds that seed of the word of God can fall upon – firstly, the wayside, or common rights of way, where countless feet had beaten the ground hard and unresponsive. Secondly, rocky ground, where the soil was spread shallowly over a bed of rock. Thirdly, the thorny ground where the life of good seed would be choked out. And finally the good ground.
This parable is told in three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, and in each, an interpretation of good ground is given.
Matthew 13:23 says that the listener understands the word, asking “what does this mean for me?”
Mark 4:4-20 says a good listener accepts the word. Such a person takes it into their mind, so that it becomes part of their thought processes and life.
Luke 8:15 says that the good listener holds the word fast, persevering with it, so that, in accepting the truth, it becomes something to guide one’s decision in all circumstances, something upon which action will always be taken.
Jesus is calling us to be alert to recognise and listen to the seeds of His word, in whatever way they are sown in our lives. Sometimes it might be in reading the Bible, or in listening to a sermon, or discussion in a Bible study group, but sometimes He speaks to us through events in our lives, or the seemingly unimportant action of others.
Our task is to keep our minds and hearts always receptive, like good, well-tilled and composted soil, seeking, with the Spirit’s guidance, to understand the messages that He sends us, to fully accept the truths that are revealed to us, and to hold fast to them at all times and in all places, so that through perseverance our lives may bring forth wonderful fruits (Luke 4:20).
PRAYER
Loving God, fill us with Your grace, so we can hear Your word, understand it and respond to it, so that, knowing Your way, we may walk in it. Through your empowering Spirit, Amen.
10 september 2025
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9
READING: Psalm 51: 1 – 7
Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession for the wrongdoings done by King David when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, wife of a soldier out fighting in a war. When we confess our sins, we are admitting to God all the wrong doings that we have committed against Him, the ways of our lives have fallen short of our Lord’s expectations of us. Confession may be as a nation as the Israelites did, when the prophet Nehemiah called them to account for all their wayward live styles which were contrary to the Law of Moses, which were given to him by the Lord, for Israel. Nehemiah called them all together and had the Law read to them by Ezra, the teacher of the law. He read from the Book of the Law of God, from daybreak till noon explaining it to the people. In Nehemiah 8 : 8 – 9 + 9 : 2 – 3 the prophet explains how the reading of the Law and the understanding of it caused the Israelites to confess their sins. Today we need a worldwide reading and studying of scripture and our subsequent confession of all our evil and wrong doings. We are also called to confess our sins individually before God. There are many Places in the Old Testament and the New Testament where God has promised to forgive our sins, which is wipe the slate clean. We must acknowledge and accept that Jesus, because he loves us so much, has taken our sins upon Himself by dying on the cross, to take our guilt on His shoulders for the forgiveness of our sins. In John 14 : 15 + 23 Jesus says, “If you love Me, you wilI obey what I command.” And “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” God’s love for us is so boundless that He is always willing to listen to our confessions of guilt and He will accept us back, through His great forgiving love.
PRAYER
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me. Wash me, cleanse me, purify me, make my heart as white as snow. Renew a right spirit in me. May I be worthy of Your love, O Lord, so I may glorify Your name as I serve You. Amen. (exerts from Psalm 51)
11 september 2025
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love Psalm 51: 1
READING: Psalm 51
Psalm 51 contains some of the most heart-wrenching but beautiful poetry. Those familiar words of repentance and confession are etched into the hearts of many Christians. Used in liturgies since ancient times, the words are still commanding and relevant today.
The instruction before the psalm leaves us with no doubt as to the historic context of its origin. “For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.”
The story of King David and his infatuation with Bathsheba may be seen in the 11th and 12th chapters of the second book of Samuel. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah, a servant and soldier of David’s, who was at that time risking his life for his king and country; and the adultery was followed by other sins, as David treacherously contrived Uriah’s murder. The event brought disrepute to his kingship; it was the greatest blemish upon David’s character: it is said of him that all the rest of his faults were nothing compared to this (1 Kings 15 5).
David, according to what we read, initially felt no particular remorse or sorrow for his crimes. The repentance which he expresses in this psalm was brought about through the ministry of the prophet Nathan, who was sent by God to convince him of his sin. David, in grief, then poured out his soul to God in this prayer for mercy and grace.
We read the path of David’s anguished thoughts – he confesses his sin, vs3-6; he prays earnestly for the pardon of his sin, vs1, 2, 7, 9; for peace of conscience, vs8, 12; for grace to go and sin no more, vs10, 11, 14; for liberty of access to God, vs15. He promises to do what he could for the good of the souls of others, vs13 and for the glory of God, vs16, 17, 19.
Nathan was brave to accost the king with his wrongdoing. David was brave enough to allow his penitence to be publicly sung. And his legacy has enabled confessing sinners ever since to express their confused thoughts through the beauty of David’s words.
We need to be bravely honest in the face of wrongdoing, our own or that of others. And God will, in His own way, use our repentance to bring about His kingdom on earth.
PRAYER
Most merciful God, I am truly sorry for my wrongdoing. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive all that is past. Amen.
12 september 2025
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6: 37
READING: Matthew 18: 21-35
Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive another person’s sins, up to seven times. Jesus answers that he should forgive seventy times seven. Some of us know we need to forgive but find ourselves unable to let go of the past hurts. Many of us nurture our anger to keep it glowing. We brood on the mistakes made against us and find it difficult to forgive and forget. If we continue to brood on what others have done against us, then we will be inclined to miss the noble, good and beautiful things that are going on in life around us.
In Jesus’ parable a debt is forgiven for an enormous amount, yet the slave is unable to forgive one of his fellow slaves for a small amount. In life in general many carry heavy burdens of hurt caused by others and find it difficult to forgive them and their hearts remain full of deep hurts, which poisons their whole lives.
We need to turn to our Lord Jesus, who alone can teach us how to forgive and forget. We need to repent and ask for forgiveness for ourselves first, so that we can receive His overwhelming love, grace, forgiveness and strength. This will then help us to forgive others, over and over again, until we are finally healed.
The Lord is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of God and He will lift you up. (James 4:8,10)
PRAYER
Loving Lord God, we ask for Your forgiveness for all the hurt, hatred and anger we hold against others. Help us to truly repent of our own sins and then to receive Your grace and forgiveness and so forgive others as we grow in Your love and grace.
Amen