Psalm 105:1-23 - Daily Devotion - 1 September 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

This month, we are returning to our devotions through the book of Psalms. For these devotions, instead of hearing someone else’s reflections, each day I’ll ask you to reflect on the Psalm yourself using two simple questions:

1. What things in the Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus? It could be something about his ministry, his suffering and death, his resurrection, his kingdom, or what God has done for us through Jesus.

But don’t worry if you can’t always think of something – just read, reflect and pray.

~~~

1 Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
make known His deeds among the nations.
2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wonders.3 Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Seek out the LORD and His strength;
seek His face always.
5 Remember the wonders He has done,
His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,
6 O offspring of His servant Abraham,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

7 He is the LORD our God;
His judgments carry throughout the earth.
8 He remembers His covenant forever,
the word He ordained for a thousand generations—
9 the covenant He made with Abraham,
and the oath He swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in the land,
13 they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
14 He let no man oppress them;
He rebuked kings on their behalf:
15 “Do not touch My anointed ones!
Do no harm to My prophets!”

16 He called down famine on the land
and cut off all their supplies of food.
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles
and placed his neck in irons,
19 until his prediction came true
and the word of the LORD proved him right.
20 The king sent and released him;
the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household,
ruler over all his substance,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.

23 Then Israel entered Egypt;
Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

John 13:36-38 - Daily Devotion - 31 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

36 “Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked.

Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

37 “Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”

38 “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Annie Davies

This passage makes me reflect on sin and my own experience of the Christian life. There have been times in my life when I have been so keen for Christ, so certain I will go and be a missionary overseas, and open to embrace every kind of challenge and suffering for Christ, to make him known. Like Peter, I can say to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you”.

Then I have kids, and suddenly I am not so bold. I am not as willing to make sacrifices for Christ when it may be hard for my family, and I can slide into wanting a comfortable life. Struggles with sleeplessness and busyness with kids take over, and doubts about God creep in. How do I go from such certainty and zeal for Christ to wavering in my willingness? It makes me wonder how easily, in my changed circumstances, I might slip into denying Christ entirely. The power of sin is shocking and scary to think about!

This reminds me of what Paul writes in Romans 7:21, which describes a similar struggle with sin: “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me”. We know and love Christ and want to follow him, yet evil and sin are right there and we need to keep fighting them. This continual struggle seems to be part of the Christian life.

I am so thankful Jesus was glorified like he said he would be. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has defeated sin and death. Despite the struggles, I am encouraged to keep struggling and fighting sin. We can trust God and hold onto his promises that Christ’s death has paid the penalty for sin and we will go to be with Christ later.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annie is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

John 13:31-35 - Daily Devotion - 29 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once.

33 Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Queenie Favelle

As I read this passage, the question that came to my mind was: Why is it a ‘new’ commandment that Jesus is giving to the disciples? Loving each other is basically the summary of the law of Moses (see Leviticus 19:18).

But I quickly realised that Jesus is referring to his example of loving each other, which is laying down his life for them. Even though Jesus knew that he would soon die on the cross, his preoccupation is not his own suffering, but what will happen to his disciples. He tenderly calls them his ‘little children’ and he spends the next 2 chapters comforting them before he heads to the cross.

Jesus’ love for us is to the point of death, and we are to love each other in the same way. This really is a big challenge, because we so often want to put ourselves in front of others and think about the ‘sacrifices’ we make for church. But Jesus’ love is a high calling. It is love that is willing and sacrificial, not counting the cost.

And when we love like Jesus does, it has an evangelistic edge. It is a gospel witness to others. As they see what kind of love we show each other, they get a glimpse of the love that Jesus has shown us. Our love for each other will be attractive to many non-Christians, especially in our individualistic and self-centred society. How we love will have a bearing on how others perceive Jesus.

Reflect now on how we are going with showing real love for each other. Is our love stingy, or is it the kind of willing, sacrificial love that Jesus has shown us on the cross?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Queenie is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

John 13:21-30 - Daily Devotion - 28 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

22 The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. 23 One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. 24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.

Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. 29 Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

I found the whole bread-dipping thing confusing at first. How did the disciples not understand it was Judas? I think it’s that, when Jesus actually handed him the bread and spoke to him, he did it subtly so the others wouldn’t pick it up. He wanted them to know that his betrayal was part of God’s sovereign plan, but he didn’t want them to know who the betrayer was – not yet.

Why not? Because they would have jumped on Judas and tied him to a chair to stop him! Jesus wouldn’t allow that. Even as his death drew closer – as the enormity of what he would suffer (God’s wrath on the whole world!) bore down on his truly-human mind and emotions – still Jesus resolutely directed events to take him to the cross. “What you are about to do, do quickly” (v. 27): he virtually pushed Judas “out into the night” (v. 30).

Into the night. That isn’t a random detail. It symbolises what had happened to Judas’s heart. Judas had walked away from the Light of the world and into the darkness. It symbolises what verse 27 tells us: “when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.”

I wonder if you read that and thought, “It wasn’t Judas’s fault – Satan took control of him, so how could he resist?” It’s true that, at this point, Judas was not in control of his own steps. And yet the fault was entirely his. It wasn’t like he went from “eager disciple” to “slave of Satan” in a single moment. Long before this, he had taken to stealing from their communal funds (John 12:6). Before this night arrived, Satan had suggested to him the path of greed and betrayal (John 13:2), and he hadn’t resisted. No one walks away from Jesus innocently and against the grain of their own choices. Satan’s control is built on a hundred moments of deciding for the world instead of for Jesus.

I’ve wrestled many times with the question: What will stop me from walking away from Jesus? And the Bible always brings me back to the same two answers. From my side, God calls me to strive against sin, the world, and the devil with all the energy he gives me. And at the same time, I know that ultimately, I will only continue in Christ because of God’s grace and sustaining power in me. So I trust him with my future, even while I strive.

Pray now for his strength, and place your future in his hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

John 13:12-20 - Daily Devotion - 27 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

18 I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

The other day, after my 5-year-old’s bath, I told her how hard I had to scrub her feet to get them clean. She had been walking around outside barefoot, and come bathtime, her feet were filthy. She understood that it can be hard to clean your own feet (it’s hard to get to them properly!), and that your feet often get dirtier than any other part of you.

Yesterday we heard how Jesus’ washed his disciples’ filthy feet. Today he explains that he has set an example for them to follow. He commands them to do the same for each other. He then says something that the world doesn’t understand: no servant is greater than the master. In other words, if Jesus the master is prepared to do the lowliest acts of service, then so should his followers.

I reminded my daughter of Jesus’ words. He died for us to wash us clean – and we live in light of what he has done. She immediately knew what he meant, I didn’t even have to explain it. The example that he set was enough that she wanted to have a go at doing some things herself for others. This morning, she got breakfast for her older sister (I'm not crying, I promise).

If Jesus’ example is enough for my 5-year-old to understand and put into action, it’s enough for all of us. What lowly act of service will you take on in response to Jesus’ example? Perhaps taking on an unseen, unrecognised work or support for someone or for the church?  Perhaps reaching out to a brother or sister who you haven’t seen recently, to pray over them or encourage them in some way?  Pray about it and serve like the great king has served us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

John 13:1-11 - Daily Devotion - 26 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end. 2 The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him.

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Yuan Vongsavanh

I remember reading these verses years ago during my early exploration of Christianity and they left an uncomfortable lasting image in my mind. It is unfathomable that the Son of God would get up from the dinner table, lower himself to a servant’s role and posture, and wash his disciples’ feet. In Jesus’s time, when people walked in sandals on dusty roads, feet were gross, caked in dirt, mud, and street waste. Yet Jesus, stripping away his robes and his status, used his bare hands to clean that filth.

Even before I accepted Christ, this image made me uneasy because I recognised it as an act of deep humility. Today, viewing this scene through the lens of the cross, that discomfort is still there, but also a profound gratitude. Jesus knew every sin and shortcoming I had and would ever commit, yet he still chose the path of the ultimate self-sacrificing servant, giving his life to redeem me and cleanse me.

How undeserving we are of a love that unfathomable! This passage remains a powerful reminder of his ultimate sacrifice, freeing us from sin and offering eternal life. What a beautiful reason to praise Him for that now in prayer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yuan is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

John 12:44-50 - Daily Devotion - 25 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.

47 As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Today’s passage marks the last words that Jesus proclaims in his public ministry in the gospel of John.  Although Jesus had performed many signs in full public view, many still did not believe him. So when he cries out in verse 44, my first reflection is that you can really get the sense that he is making one last concerted effort to anyone who is still listening: “Believe in me! Believe in my words. I have come, from the Father, to save and to be a light for all, so that no one who believes remains in darkness.”

In a world that continues to live in great darkness, Jesus is that light. His words have the power to save. The time of judgment is not yet – but there will be a time when God will hand down judgment, on that last day. But for today: salvation is available for anyone who receives the words of Jesus.

So as a follower of Jesus, what should my response be to today’s passage? I think it is to continue to do exactly what Jesus did: speak what the Father has told Jesus to say. For me, that means to go and proclaim the news the Jesus is the Christ, the saviour of the world, the light that you can come into out of the darkness. Whisper it or cry it out, but share the hope that this brings with someone you know, that they too might believe in Jesus as Lord.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.

John 12:37-43 - Daily Devotion - 24 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they cannot see with their eyes,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him. 42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Adam Davies

This passage immediately makes me think of that classic thing people say: “If Jesus/God came and spoke to me or showed himself to me, then I would believe.”

That feels like it should be obvious – if Jesus was standing right in front of me now, performing miracles, healing the sick, even raising the dead, well of course all my doubts would disappear and I would leave everything to follow him… wouldn’t I?

The trouble with this age-old objection to following Jesus is that he did come, and he did perform many signs, but people still didn’t believe him! We entertain thoughts like, wouldn’t it be better if Jesus came now, because we could make a video documentary, and then the evidence would be so clear to everyone, but really… would it?

In an age of “AI slop” where “Shrimp Jesus” gets as much attention as anything real (yes, that’s a thing on the internet now!), it still wouldn’t help! It’s not an evidence problem, it’s a heart issue. If I simply don’t want to give up living for myself, I will find any excuse not to trust in Jesus, even if his work is clear before me. Isaiah spoke many years before Jesus came about this exact problem – our eyes are blinded, our hearts are hardened, so we cannot turn and be healed.

But I thank God that he chose to reveal himself to me, that he worked in me by his Spirit so I can believe his message, and has promised to keep me for the day of salvation. Otherwise there would be zero hope for me, a sinner.

What about you? Have you believed his message that has been revealed, or are you harbouring doubts that long for a direct revelation that would give you the certainty you desire? Christ has already come in the flesh, what more could we want?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adam is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

John 12:27-36 - Daily Devotion - 22 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

30 In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.

34 The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”

After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Matt Radloff

Why did Jesus come into the world? Why did he enter the world that he made? Why face rejection, humiliation and death? Jesus tells us that this is the very reason that he came. He came to die. But not a pointless, meaningless death. Jesus came to die a death that would be the most significant death in the history of the world. He knew that this was the reason for him to come, and he knew what it would accomplish. It would bring glory to his Father's name. Even while Jesus' soul was troubled, fearful of what stood before him, he called for his Father to glorify his name. Jesus knew that his death on the cross would bring glory to God. And that's exactly what it did. Jesus was lifted up, nailed to the cross in pain and suffering. And from there, he shone as light for all people, radiating God's glory. He gathered us to himself, people from all tribes and nations. He brought us to see the Father's love for us, so that we might give glory to the Father.

Jesus shows us how important the Father's glory is to him. And I think this passage challenges us to seek the Father's glory as well. We don't do that by making ourselves look good. Instead, we give glory to the Father by listening to him. Jesus listened to his Father and obeyed him to the cross; he glorified his Father's name. And so, for us, we also bring glory to God when we listen to and obey him. As God calls us to step out in faith each and every day, we bring him glory when we listen to his voice. Most of all, we glorify God when we obey his word by coming to Jesus.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt is one of our Student Ministers.

John 12:20-26 - Daily Devotion - 21 August 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.

23 But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by George MIhas

We see in verse 20 some religious Greeks go to Jerusalem to worship before Passover. Whether they were Gentiles following the Jewish religion or converts is not clear. Nevertheless they have heard of a famous miracle worker and they want to see him. We’re not told why – do they want to be entertained or could they really believe he is the promised Messiah? (What does that even mean, seeing as no one truly understood what the Messiah came to do?)

One thing stands out to me: Jesus is not distracted. He is determined to continue his path to the cross, and he starts to preach a cryptic sermon about why he is going to die. He doesn't run to them. He isn't interested in man's approval. He isn't chasing money or fame, he is determined to finish his Father’s work.

This part of Scripture makes me think of those television evangelists who have swayed from the truth and who preach a gospel of health, wealth and prosperity, like “Just give me more money and you can get back to the Garden of Eden.”

Isn’t it funny that I’m criticising that, as a former charismatic Christian? I believe these people start off in ministry with a heart to serve, but man is corruptible. Not everyone can handle the wealth and fame and all the temptations. And I’m no expert in this - Lord have mercy on us and help us!

Praise God that Jesus is not like that. Let us look to Jesus so that we learn to serve God in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. Let us push on and walk with Christ when life is hard and learn to praise God when everything is going wrong.

The other thing that stands out to me is what Jesus says about his death. He explains that his time to be glorified is approaching because he is going to the cross. He does this symbolically by saying that when a seed falls to the ground and dies, it produces a great crop (v 24). In the same way, Jesus’ death for the sin of the world is producing much fruit of sinners rescued from hell to eternal life.

But then Jesus connects his death to us, by saying that every true Christian will follow his example of giving up our lives of worldliness to serve him. Use his words as you pray today:

“Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (v 25-26)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

George is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.