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.

Daily Devotions

Looking into God’s Mirror

Imagine standing in front of a mirror one morning. You’ve just rolled out of bed—your hair is everywhere, there’s a streak of toothpaste on your chin, and your shirt is buttoned wrong. The mirror faithfully shows it all. Now imagine looking at that reflection and saying, “Oh well,” then walking out the door unchanged.

It sounds silly, right? Who looks in a mirror, sees something clearly wrong, and does nothing about it? In the letter of James, we find a different kind of mirror.

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
—James 1:23–24 (NIV)

In the physical world, a mirror shows us our outward appearance. We notice a smudge, a hair out of place, or simply our likeness. But Scripture uses the mirror as a picture of how God’s Word reveals our inner life. Just as a clean mirror gives a clear image, the Bible—“the perfect law that gives freedom” (James 1:25)—shows us who we really are before God.

It is then that we see not only what we look like but the blemishes of our lives. It is what we do and react to the image we see and what we do about the blemishes; are we prompted to change? A mirror doesn’t scold; it simply shows the need for correction.

You see this true mirror isn’t glass, but Christ himself. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God’s Spirit works as we turn from merely seeing to obeying.

Too often we “look in the mirror” of Scripture only to go on unchanged. James warns us that knowing and doing must go hand in hand.

Lord,
You’ve given us Your Word as a mirror to reveal our true selves.
Help me not merely to look, but to listen and obey.
Cleanse me from what’s hindering your likeness in me,
and transform me by your Spirit into the image of Christ.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

Imagine you're shopping for a gift and come across two nearly identical shirts. One costs £20. The other, over £200. You check the price tags, and the difference becomes clear: one has a basic label, and the other bears the name of a famous designer. What makes it valuable isn't just the fabric—it's who made it.

Now think about our own lives, as we read Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

In a world where people often struggle with insecurity, comparison, and the pressure to measure up, Psalm 139:14 offers a powerful reminder of your true worth. You were not created by accident or assembled at random. You were fearfully and wonderfully made—crafted by the hand of the Creator Himself.

To be "fearfully made" means you were made with awe-inspiring care, with deep reverence and purpose. To be "wonderfully made" means your design is unique, intentional, and beautiful. Every part of you—your appearance, your personality, your gifts, your story—is part of God's masterwork.

David doesn't just state this truth—he praises God for it. Why? Because when you recognise the value God places on you, your response isn't pride—it's worship. When you truly understand how carefully and lovingly you've been made, it changes how you see yourself and others.

If God sees you as wonderful, you are free to stop striving for the world’s approval. You can walk confidently, not in who you are by the world’s standards, but in who you are in Christ—His masterpiece.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do I believe, deep down, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made?
2. How can I begin to see myself through God’s eyes instead of the world’s lens?
3. In what ways can I affirm the worth and value of others today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for making me fearfully and wonderfully. Help me to see myself the way You see me—designed with purpose and filled with value. Teach me to live in confidence, not in what I do, but in who I am in You. And help me reflect that truth to those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotions

Today, as we continue exploring our God-given image, we turn to Psalm 8:4–6 and discover a powerful truth: we are not merely created—we are “Crowned with Glory.” This passage reminds us of the incredible value and honour God has placed on every human life.  

“What is humankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt small? Surrounded by stars, galaxies, and the vastness of creation, it’s easy to wonder: “Who am I that God would care about me?” That’s exactly what the psalmist reflects on in Psalm 8.

David is overwhelmed by the greatness of God and the dignity God has given to humanity. Despite our smallness compared to the universe, God is mindful of us. Not only that, but He has entrusted us with a role in His creation.

God didn’t just create us to exist—He created us to rule, steward, and reflect His image on earth (see also Genesis 1:26–28). He crowned us with glory and honour, not because we earned it, but because He chose to share His purpose and authority with us.

This truth pushes back against every voice that says you're insignificant, forgotten, or unworthy. You are seen. You are valued. You were created with intentionality and dignity by a God who is both infinitely great and deeply personal.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do I truly believe that God is mindful of me—my thoughts, struggles, and dreams?
2. Am I honouring the “glory and honour” God has placed on my life by living in obedience and purpose?
3. How can I better reflect God’s care in how I treat others, knowing they too are crowned by Him?

Prayer:

Lord, I’m amazed that You, the Creator of the universe, care for me. Thank You for placing worth and purpose on my life. Help me to walk in the honour You’ve given and to reflect Your glory in how I live, lead, and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotions

Today’s reflection centres on the theme “The Breath of Life.” In Genesis 2:7 (NIV) we read, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

This verse is one of the most intimate and powerful moments in all of Scripture. God didn’t simply speak humanity into existence, as He did with the rest of creation. Instead, He formed man from the dust and breathed His own breath into him. This was personal. Intentional. Sacred.

From the very beginning, we were not just made by God—we were made with Him, by His touch, and filled with His breath. That breath—the very Spirit of God—gave us life, purpose, and identity.

This truth reminds us that our lives are not random or accidental. We are not merely physical beings. We are spiritual, deeply connected to the One who formed us. The breath in our lungs is a gift, a sign that we are alive with purpose and dignity.

Even more, in Christ, God breathes new life into us again. Just as He breathed life into Adam, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). As followers of Jesus, we are not just physically alive—we are spiritually alive through Him.

Imagine walking through an art gallery filled with beautiful sculptures. Each one is shaped by a master sculptor—detailed, crafted with care. Now picture this: in the centre of the room is a sculpture unlike the rest. It’s made from simple clay. It’s not polished with marble or bronze—but the sculptor spent more time on it than any other piece.

You watch as the artist leans in, places his hands on the clay, shaping every curve with intention. But then—something unexpected happens. The artist does what no sculptor has ever done. He leans in close, and He breathes into the sculpture.

And suddenly… the sculpture opens its eyes. It breathes. It lives.

That’s not just art—that’s love. That’s Genesis 2:7. God didn’t just create us with His words; He formed us with His hands and gave us life with His breath.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do I truly value the life God has given me—physically and spiritually?
2. In what ways can I live each day with greater awareness of God’s breath within me?
3. Am I allowing the Spirit of God to shape my words, actions, and purpose?

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for shaping me with Your hands and breathing Your life into me. Help me never take for granted the gift of life and the purpose You’ve placed in me. Fill me again with Your Spirit so I may live fully for You—body, mind, and soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotions

We live in a world obsessed with image—where billions are spent trying to enhance or even completely change how we look. But this November, we’re taking a different approach. Instead of focusing on outward appearance, we’ll be reflecting on what God’s Word says about our true image—our identity as followers of Jesus.

So we start with Genesis 1:26-27 ESV “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

From the very beginning, God made it clear: we were created with purpose, value, and divine intention. Unlike anything else in creation, humanity was crafted in the very image of God—a reflection of His nature, His creativity, His love, and His authority.

This truth answers one of the deepest questions in every heart: Who am I?

We are not a mistake. We are not defined by our past, our appearance, or what the world says about us. We are image-bearers of the living God.

Being made in God's image means we are created to reflect His character—His holiness, compassion, justice, and grace. It also means every human life has inherent dignity and worth. That truth should shape how we see ourselves and how we treat others.

In a world that often distorts identity and chases after superficial beauty, God calls His people to remember who they really are. As disciples of Christ, we are not just created in God's image—we are also being renewed into it daily (Colossians 3:10), becoming more like Jesus, the perfect image of the invisible God.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do I believe and live like I am made in the image of God?
2. How does knowing I reflect God’s image affect the way I see myself—and others?
3. In what ways can I better reflect His character in my daily life?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me in Your image. Remind me that my worth comes from You, not from the world. Help me to reflect Your love, truth, and goodness in everything I do. May I see others as image-bearers too—worthy of love, respect, and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.