Daily Devotions

The Sunflower and the Sun

Sunflowers are fascinating plants. Did you know that young sunflowers turn their faces to follow the sun across the sky each day? From sunrise to sunset, their heads gently rotate, always oriented toward the light. It’s called heliotropism—sun-seeking.

That’s a powerful picture of what Paul describes in b:

“So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.”   2 Corinthians 3:18 (CEV)

Just as the sunflower follows the sun to grow and flourish, we are transformed by turning our faces toward Jesus. As we fix our eyes on Him—His mercy, His truth, His love—the Spirit works in us, slowly but surely, to make us reflect His glory.

We don’t become Christlike by looking at ourselves, comparing ourselves to others, or trying to impress God. We become like Jesus by looking at Jesus. The longer we look, the more like Him we become.

This verse is one of the most hope-filled in all of Scripture. It reminds us that transformation is not only possible — it’s promised.

We don’t change ourselves from the outside in; we are changed from the inside out, by the Spirit of God. As we fix our eyes on Christ—not just glancing, but truly beholding—we begin to reflect Him. It's not a mask we wear or a performance we manage. It’s the quiet, powerful work of the Holy Spirit making us look more and more like Jesus.

Just like Moses’ face shone after being with God, our lives begin to shine—not with our own light, but with His reflected glory.

Lord Jesus,

Help me to keep my eyes on You.

As I behold Your glory,

change me by Your Spirit.

Make me more like You—

in heart, in word, in life.

Shine through me,

so others may see You.

Amen.

Daily Devotions

The Great Exchange

“Make your peace with God.” For God caused Christ, who himself knew nothing of sin, actually to be sin for our sakes, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God.
—2 Corinthians 5:21 (J.B. Phillips)

We all know what it’s like to try and scrub out a stubborn stain. No matter how many times we try, some marks just won’t come clean. Over time, we learn to live with them—hiding the worst of them under layers, hoping others won’t notice.

That’s exactly what many of us do with our lives. We carry regrets, mistakes, and sin like stains on our souls. Some are obvious; others are buried deep. We try to clean ourselves up, to be better, try harder. But in our own strength, we can’t wash sin out.

But here’s the miracle of the gospel: Jesus offers us a trade.

He takes the stained garment of our lives and gives us His own spotless righteousness. Not a patched-up version of our old self, but a completely new identity—washed clean, made whole, and marked by His goodness.

This is what Paul is describing in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin—actually became it—so that we could be made good with God’s own goodness. It's not just that we’re forgiven; we are made righteous. God sees us clothed in Christ.

This isn’t a surface change. It’s a complete transformation from the inside out. The Christian life isn’t about managing sin better—it’s about living in the power of a new nature, gifted to us through Christ.

And what’s our part? Receive the robe. Let go of the stained one. Make peace with God—not by fixing yourself, but by trusting the One who already took your place.

Reflection Questions:

• Am I still trying to fix the stains myself?
• Have I fully accepted the righteousness Christ offers me?
• What would it look like today to live clothed in His goodness?

Jesus,
I come to You with my stains, my mess, and my failures.
Thank You for taking them all to the cross and offering me Your spotless righteousness in return.
Help me to stop striving for worth, and instead rest in the identity You’ve given me.
May I live each day clothed in Your grace,
transformed by Your love,
and made good with the goodness of God.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

“Made Good with the Goodness of God”

“Make your peace with God.” For God caused Christ, who himself knew nothing of sin, actually to be sin for our sakes, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God.
—2 Corinthians 5:21 (J.B. Phillips)

There is no deeper mystery and no greater gift than this: the sinless one became sin so that the sinful could become righteous. Paul doesn't say Christ carried sin like a burden or bore it like a symbol—he says Christ was made to be sin. It’s hard to imagine, yet it’s the very heart of the gospel.

Jesus knew no sin. Not a trace of it clung to Him. But out of pure love, He took our guilt, our shame, and our wrongs into Himself. Why? So we could receive something utterly foreign to us: the goodness of God. Not borrowed, not earned—but given. Freely, fully, forever.

This isn’t just forgiveness—it’s exchange. Our brokenness for His beauty. Our rebellion for His righteousness. Our distance for His closeness.

This verse tells us we don’t just get a clean slate—we get a whole new identity. In Christ, we become people who are right with God, who live in peace with God, because Christ has done what we never could. We’ve been made “good with the goodness of God.”

And that goodness begins to reshape everything. It doesn’t mean we’re perfect—but it does mean we’re new. It means we no longer live from shame, fear, or striving. We live from grace.

Reflection

• Do I believe that Christ really took my sin?
• Am I living as someone who has been made “good with the goodness of God”?
• What might change if I truly made my peace with God—not just in theory, but in practice?

Holy God,
It humbles me to think that Jesus, who never knew sin, 

took mine so that I could share in Your righteousness.
Thank You for this incredible exchange.
Help me live as someone who has made peace with You—
not in fear or shame, but in freedom and joy.
Shape my life by Your goodness.
May Your image be seen in me, through Christ my Lord.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

“A God-Fashioned Life”

“Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”
—Ephesians 4:24 (The Message)

Imagine a someone who’s worn the same tattered coat for years. It’s threadbare, stained, and far too small. But it’s familiar—comfortable in a strange sort of way. One day, he’s invited to a formal banquet by someone important. And not only is he invited, but the host provides him with a brand-new, custom-made suit—perfect in every detail.

But when the day comes, the man shows up in his old coat. He clutches it tightly, uncomfortable in the new suit. “I know this one,” he says. “It may be worn, but it’s mine.”

This is often how we treat our spiritual lives.

God isn’t interested in a surface-level makeover. His work in us begins deep within—transforming the heart, renewing the mind, and reshaping our desires. What Paul describes here is not behaviour modification, but soul renovation. A new way of life that begins inside and slowly, steadily, shows up in how we live, speak, and relate to others.

This “God-fashioned life” doesn’t come off a rack. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s custom-made, personally tailored to fit who God created you to be. And it bears one label: Christlikeness.

God’s goal isn’t just to make you nicer or more polite. It’s to reproduce His character in you—His love, patience, truthfulness, courage, grace. We’re not simply learning to act like Jesus; we’re learning to live from His life within us.

But notice the order: first the renewal from the inside, then the change in conduct. We don’t force ourselves to be holy—we surrender to the One who is. This is the Spirit’s work in us, shaping us daily into the image of Christ.

It’s a journey, not a sprint. Some days the transformation feels slow. But every moment of surrender, every quiet yes to God, is part of the process.

Reflection

• Where is God inviting me to let go of the old way of living?
• How is His character being formed in me today?
• Am I cooperating with the Spirit’s work—or resisting it?

Prayer

God of new beginnings,
Thank You for calling me into a life that reflects You.
Renew me from the inside out.
Shape my thoughts, my words, my actions.
Help me to live in step with Your Spirit,
as You faithfully reproduce Your character in me.
Make my life a true reflection of Your grace.
Amen.

You were made for more than improvement—you were made for transformation. Let God do His beautiful work in you.

Daily Devotions

 

“Bearing the Image of Heaven”

“The first man was from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. People who are made of dust are like the man of dust, and people who are heavenly are like the man from heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” —1 Corinthians 15:47–49 (paraphrased from NRSV)

We all begin life in the image of Adam—the one made from dust. That means we know weakness, struggle, temptation, and the certainty of death. Dust speaks of what is fragile and fleeting. It’s a sobering reminder that we are not in control.

But Paul introduces a glorious contrast: the second model, Jesus, who is from heaven. In Him, a new image becomes possible. Jesus didn’t just restore what was lost in Adam—He offers something entirely new. A heavenly identity. A risen life.

We still live in a dusty world, and we still carry some of Adam’s frailty. But in Christ, we are being reshaped. Little by little, we are learning to live as people marked not by earth, but by heaven. And this transformation is not just for “someday” in eternity—it begins now.

To bear the image of the one from heaven is to reflect His nature. To speak with His compassion. To forgive like He forgives. To love with His kind of love. It’s not easy—but it’s possible, because the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.

So when we feel overwhelmed by our humanity, or discouraged by our weakness, remember this: We were made of dust, yes—but you are being re-formed in the image of heaven.

Reflection

• Where in my life am I still living like the “man of dust”?
• How might I more fully reflect the character of Christ today?
• What does it mean for me to carry a heavenly identity in everyday situations?

Heavenly Father,
You formed me from the dust, but you have not left me there. Through Jesus, you are clothing me with a new identity—shaped not by failure, but by resurrection. Help me reflect Your likeness in the way I live, speak, and love. Remind me that I bear the image of heaven, and give me grace to live it out each day. Amen.

Sunday Lectionary Reflection

A reflective devotional for Sunday 9 November, based on the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C) readings:

• Old Testament (continuous): Haggai 1:15b-2:9  
• Psalm: Psalms 145:1-5,17-21 (or Psalm 98:1-9)  
• New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17  
• Gospel: Luke 20:27-38  

Reflection

In Haggai, God speaks through the prophet to the people rebuilding the temple: “Take courage … for I am with you” (Haggai 1:4).  The house may look insignificant in their sight (v 3), but God promises that its “latter splendour” will be greater than the former (v 9). Here is a word of hope: even when our work seems small, and our world seems diminished, God is present and promises transformation.

Psalm 145 invites us to praise God daily, to mediate on God’s wondrous works, and to rejoice in God’s nearness and faithfulness (vv 1-5,17-21).  The gospel reading from Luke confronts questions of life and death, resurrection and what it means to belong to God: Jesus declares that God is “not the God of the dead but of the living” (Luke 20:38).  Meanwhile, in 2 Thessalonians Paul urges the church to stand firm, to hold fast, and gives thanks because God has chosen them for salvation (2 Thes 2:13-14). 

What ties these readings together?

• The promise of God’s presence in what seems small or unpromising (Haggai).
• The call to praise and trust in God’s steadfastness (Psalm).
• The assurance of life in God beyond death (Luke).
• The exhortation to hold firm in faith and hope (2 Thessalonians).

For us today: perhaps we may feel our efforts are small, our faith fragile, our world uncertain. Yet the Scriptures invite us to take courage: God is with us; new life is promised; our praise matters; and our hope is to be anchored in Christ. We live as people of resurrection and promise — in the present, and in the life to come.

Today’s Hymn Verse Singing the Faith 660: “Called by Christ to be disciples” by Martin Leckebusch.

“So in government or commerce,

college, hospice, farm or home,

whether volunteers or earning,

may we see your kingdom come.”

This verse resonates: our daily “ordinary” places—work, home, rest—become fields of discipleship; our “small” spheres are blessed with God’s promise of renewal (echoing Haggai) and our calling to live out our faith.

Prayer

Gracious God,

you call us into life—into the work of hope, 

into the praise of your name, 

into the family of the living.

In our ministries and in our rest, 

in our struggles and in our joys, 

help us to know that you are with us.

When our efforts seem small, 

remind us of your promise: 

the latter splendour shall be greater than the former.

When doubts assail us, 

stir our hearts to trust that you are the God of the living, 

and that nothing in life or death 

can separate us from your love.

Empower us by your Spirit, 

that we may hold fast, stand firm, 

and serve you in our workplaces, 

our homes, our communities.

May our praise rise to you each day, 

and may our lives reflect the hope 

you give through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Daily Devotions

 “Wearing God's Label”

We all know what it feels like to wear something that doesn’t quite fit—shoes that pinch, clothes too tight or too loose, hand-me-downs that were never meant for us. In contrast, think of a perfectly tailored outfit, made just for you. It fits, it flatters, and you feel confident wearing it.

Paul tells us in Colossians that when we come to Christ, we’re given a new wardrobe—a whole new way of life. Colossians 3:10 “Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it.” (The Message) The old garments of anger, greed, gossip, and selfishness no longer suit us. They’re out of season. They don’t fit our new identity.

Instead, we’re clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and love. These aren’t just abstract virtues; they’re hand-stitched by God, custom-made for each of us. And every piece comes with His label—a reminder of who we now belong to.

We are God’s beloved. And what we wear—how we live, love, forgive, and serve—should reflect that.

But here’s the thing: every morning, we still choose what to wear. Spiritually speaking, we can reach for the old clothes—grudges, pride, bitterness—or we can clothe ourselves in Christ (Rom. 13:14). The wardrobe is already provided. The choice is ours.

Reflection

• What “old clothes” are we tempted to put back on?
• Which qualities in our “new wardrobe” are we asking God to help us grow into?
• When others see us, whose label do they notice?

Lord,
Thank You for clothing me in a new way of life.
Help me to take off what no longer belongs to me
and put on all that reflects Your character.
Let my life be a visible sign of Your love,
and may I wear Your name with humility and joy.
Amen.