Sunday Thoughts - 12 October 2025

Readings for 12 October (Year C)

• Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7 — The exiles in Babylon are told to build houses, plant gardens, seek the city’s welfare, and pray for it.  
• Psalm 66:1–12 — Praise for God’s mighty deeds, acknowledging testing and deliverance.  
• 2 Timothy 2:8–15 — Paul urges endurance in suffering, faithfulness, and working to present oneself “approved” to God.  
• Luke 17:11–19 — The healing of ten lepers, and only one returns to give thanks to Jesus. (A story about gratitude, faith, and recognition of God’s mercy.)  

These passages together invite us to reflect on faith, gratitude, endurance, and our role in the community.

Reflection

1. Life in Exile, and the Call to Settle Where God Places Us

Jeremiah’s instruction to the exiles is counterintuitive: though uprooted, they are told to build, settle, cultivate, and seek the welfare of the place where they are. The call is not to passive waiting or constant longing for return, but to active engagement where one is, trusting God’s presence in the “in-between.” The welfare of the city, the common life, the flourishing of others — these become our own welfare.

In our lives, we often feel exiled — from health, from ideal circumstances, from spiritual ease. Yet in those places, God still calls us to live faithfully: to work, to pray, to serve, to plant seeds of hope.

2. Trials, Transformation, and Praise

The psalm gives voice to the tension of suffering and deliverance. The people have been tested (“you brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs”) yet confess: “you have brought us out to a spacious place.” In our own spiritual journey, we too pass through seasons of trial and refining. The psalm invites honest lament but also insists on praise — remembering God’s past deliverance as a foundation for present trust.

3. Endurance in Faith

Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, declares that though he is chained, the “word of God is not chained.” He endures hardship for the sake of the elect, and urges faithfulness. He also warns of avoiding pointless quarrels, striving in the reading, teaching, and confession of faith. There is a sense of a lasting race: suffering, devotion, trust.

This challenges us: when the cost of discipleship seems high — socially, emotionally, physically — will we remain faithful? Will we continue in the work of the gospel, even when unseen or unappreciated?

4. Gratitude as Recognition

The gospel story is striking: ten lepers healed, but only one returns to thank Jesus. Jesus asks, “Were not ten made clean? Where are the other nine?” There is a difference between physical healing and spiritual recognition. Gratitude creates deeper intimacy: the one who returns is welcomed, affirmed, and told, “your faith has made you well.”

We are prone to take God’s gifts for granted — health, mercy, daily provision. This story reminds us that the miracle is not only in receiving, but in remembering, returning, worshipping, and giving thanks.

Practical Takeaways

• In places of waiting, or hardship, or displacement, ask: Where can I faithfully live and serve now? How do I “plant gardens” in this season?
• Keep a “memory book” of God’s past deliverance, so that in dark days you can call on those testimonies.
• Examine your endurance: are there areas where you are tempted to give up faithfulness? Pray for strength to remain.
• Cultivate a posture of gratitude — daily, small thanks, that reorients your heart toward God rather than what you lack.
• When God acts in your life, return, worship, and give thanks — not just in mind but with joy and obedience.

Prayer

Gracious and faithful God, in days of exile and longing, you call us to settle, to build, to plant, to minister to the place where you have planted us. Grant us courage to live faithfully where we are. In times of testing, when burdens press upon us, do not hide your face. Remind us of your deliverance, and bring us into spacious places of hope and freedom. Strengthen us in the race of faith — sustain us through suffering, sharpen us in endurance, keep us devoted to your Word and service. And when you heal, restore, provide, let us not be among the nine who pass by without return, but grant us hearts that recognize, return, worship, and give thanks. Through Jesus Christ, who heals and restores, and by the power of your Spirit, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion

 

Evident Progress

1 Timothy 4:15
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

Reflection

“There are no short cuts to maturity,” writes Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life. “It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed.”

He continues: “Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavour. In America, tomatoes are usually picked unripened so they won’t bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold, these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO₂ gas to turn them red instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to the flavour of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature slowly.”

Paul’s words to Timothy carry the same message: growth takes time, but it requires intentional effort. Timothy is instructed to actively engage in his ministry, to be devoted to the public reading of Scripture, to teaching, and to the way he lives. His progress was to be visible—not for his own recognition, but as a witness to the work of Christ in him.

Growing with Patience and Purpose

Paul urged Timothy to:

• Stand firm in the gospel of truth.

• Be patient in times of suffering.

• Remain faithful to God’s calling.

• Endure the loneliness that often comes with dedicated service.

• Hold on to the blessed hope of Christ’s return

He was told to meditate on these things—to take them to heart, to persevere in them, and to give himself fully to them. In this way, Timothy’s life would display the grace and glory of God, offering a living testimony to others.


Prayer

Thank You, Father, for the Scriptures and all that they contain—for they are food for the weary soul, instruction for godly living, and wisdom from above. I pray that I may be absorbed in Your Word, that the beauty of Christ may be formed in me, and that my life may bear witness to Your grace.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

Growing in Grace

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Reflection

This verse is a call to ongoing spiritual growth. Peter urges believers to deepen their understanding of Jesus Christ and to live more fully in his grace. Growth in the Christian life is not about reaching perfection, but about continuous learning, maturing, and drawing closer to God.

At the time of writing, Peter was countering false teachers who promoted careless living and denied the reality of judgment. In contrast, he insists that true growth produces holiness, faithfulness, and readiness to meet the Lord.

To grow in grace means becoming more like Jesus—in character, actions, and attitudes. It is the gradual development of love, compassion, humility, and patience. As we grow, we come to a fuller appreciation of God’s unearned favour and the richness of his love and mercy. This growth draws us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with him.

Illustration

A group of tourists once visited a picturesque village. Passing an old man sitting by a fence, one of them asked, rather condescendingly, “Were any great men born in this village?”

The old man quietly replied, “Nope, only babies.”

Every believer begins the Christian life as a spiritual baby. Whether newly converted at six or sixty, we all start the same way—with much to learn and room to grow. But a Christian who remains a spiritual infant for forty years is a tragedy. God intends for us to mature, to take in the nourishment of his Word, and to grow strong enough to bless and influence others. Until we learn to feed on the deeper truths of Scripture ourselves, our growth will remain stunted.

Prayer

Lord, help me to grow in your grace and knowledge. Deepen my understanding of you and your ways. Shape my life so that it reflects your grace and is marked by an ever-growing knowledge of who you are. May my words, actions, and attitudes bring glory to you—both now and forevermore.

Amen.

Daily Devotions

The Abundance of Grace

Romans 5:17
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.


Reflection

The phrase “abundance of grace” reminds us of God’s overflowing generosity. His grace is never measured out in small amounts; it is poured out freely and without limit.
Paul sets before us the contrast: where sin brought brokenness and death, God’s grace brings life, renewal, and victory through Christ. Grace is more than enough—it does not merely cancel sin, it transforms us to live as children of God.

Theologian Stanley Hauerwas describes grace not simply as an idea but as a gift that changes how we live. Grace is God’s own life shared with us, shaping both our daily walk and our life together as the church. It is not only something we receive, but also something we are called to embody.


Meditation on Grace

All because of the grace of Jesus Christ we have:
a love that can never be fathomed,
a life that can never die,
a righteousness that can never be tarnished,
a peace that can never be understood,
a rest that can never be disturbed,
a joy that can never be diminished,
a hope that can never be disappointed,
a glory that can never be clouded,
a light that can never be darkened,
a purity that can never be defiled,
a beauty that can never be marred,
a wisdom that can never be baffled,
and resources that can never be exhausted.


Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundance of grace You pour into our lives. Thank You for the free gift of righteousness and the sure promises that in Christ we may truly reign in life.

Remind us that Your grace is always more than enough—stronger than sin, deeper than sorrow, richer than anything this world can offer. Help us to live each day in the joy and freedom of that grace.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

 

John 10:10 – A Fresh Expression

“The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; but I have come so that they may have life—life in its fullest measure.”

What Is the Abundant Life?

The abundant life Jesus promises is not about wealth, possessions, or comfort, but about something far deeper: a life marked by joy, peace, and purpose that flows from relationship with him.

To live abundantly is to live fully, not merely existing but entering into the very essence of life in Christ—discovering our God-given potential, purpose, and calling.

It doesn’t mean a life without challenges or suffering. Rather, it means finding meaning even in hardship, hope even in sorrow, and joy even in trials, because our lives are rooted in God.

Abundant life calls us to live by kingdom standards—to rise above what the world considers “normal” and to walk in the ways of compassion, justice, reconciliation, and peace.

A sponge only comes alive when it’s soaked in water. Dry, it’s brittle and empty; full, it’s flexible and useful.

Our lives are the same. On our own we’re dry, but when Christ fills us, we overflow with life—and that life blesses others too.

Jesus does not speak of fullness of life as something reserved only for the hereafter. Eternal life begins now, in faith and in trust, in living his Word day by day. He calls us not only to receive life but to become life-givers—ministers of his love—so that others too may know the fullness of God’s grace.

Prayer for Abundant Life

Merciful God,
who is always more than we can imagine,
widen our vision of the world.
Broaden our view of justice.
Give us dreams of peace that rise above geography, race, or religion,
and that break free from the limits of human systems and structures.

Open our eyes and ears,
so that wherever we go we may hear you calling us by name—
calling us to serve,
calling us to share,
calling us to praise.
Keep us steadfast in your promise of the kingdom,
where all things are made new
and where every person can share in life in all its fullness.
Through Jesus Christ, the Life-Giver.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

Romans 15:13

“May the God of unfailing hope flood your life with deep joy and unshakable peace as you trust in Him. And may the Holy Spirit’s power cause hope to overflow within you—an abundant hope that sustains, renews, and points you always to the promise of life in Christ.”

Imagine a village in the desert where water is scarce. Wells often run dry, and the people live anxiously from one day to the next. But then a spring is discovered—deep, constant, and pure. At first, the villagers dip their jars cautiously, unsure if it will last. But as days turn into weeks and months, they discover that the flow never stops. Soon, instead of fear, there is joy. Instead of hoarding, they share freely, because they know the spring is abundant.

This is the picture of God’s abundant hope. It is not a shallow puddle that evaporates when the heat rises, but a living fountain within us—supplied by the Spirit—that overflows into peace, joy, and renewed strength. Just as the spring transforms the life of the village, so hope in Christ transforms our outlook on life and sustains us through every season.

Reflection

This abundant hope is more than wishful thinking. It is a hope anchored in God’s unchanging Word, rooted in the experience of faith, and alive in the presence of the Spirit. It sees beyond present struggles to the new beginnings God is always unfolding. It is a hope that perseveres when shadows fall, declaring that resurrection light is stronger than despair. Such hope equips us to live joyfully, to endure faithfully, and to believe confidently that God’s tomorrow is greater than today.

Prayer

Loving Father, my heart rejoices in Your unshakable promises. You are my God of abundant hope—steadfast, true, and overflowing with mercy. Thank You that this hope is not fragile or uncertain, but a living assurance, secured in the risen Christ. Fill me afresh with joy, peace, and courage through Your Spirit, that I may carry Your hope into every place and every encounter. To Your glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion

Luke 6:45

A good person draws goodness from the storehouse of a heart filled with what is right, while a corrupt person brings forth what is harmful from a heart filled with what is wrong. For whatever fills the heart will inevitably shape the words that come from the mouth.

Reflection

This verse reminds us that our words are not accidental—they rise from the deep reservoir of our hearts. If love, grace, and truth are cultivated within us, then kindness and blessing will naturally flow outward. But if bitterness, selfishness, or fear take root, those, too, will spill into speech and action.

Scripture often uses the heart to describe the core of who we are—the seat of our desires, decisions, and devotion. It is the place where thought and feeling meet, where choices are made, and where God longs to dwell. As John Ortberg reminds us, God’s love is not given because we are already worthy—it is God’s love that makes us worthy. His immeasurable love for the human heart transforms even what feels ragged or broken into treasure beyond price.

Think of a fruit tree in the garden. If the roots are healthy and the tree is well nourished, its branches will produce good fruit—sweet, ripe, and nourishing. But if the roots are diseased or the soil is poor, the fruit will be spoiled or even poisonous. In the same way, our words are the fruit, and our hearts are the roots. Whatever we allow to grow within us will, in time, show itself in what we say and do.

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Prayer

Dear Lord,
You see us as we truly are. You know the hidden places of our hearts and the words that rise from them. Forgive us when our lips speak what does not reflect your love. Shape our hearts with your mercy, so that what overflows from within us will be goodness, truth, and grace. May our words and actions bear witness to your transforming love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.