I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

As Wax Melts before the Fire--May 21, 2015

[From June 9, 2011 archive]

Lord Jesus, my constant desire is to justify myself.
On my own I am unable to turn from my transgressions,
but you are able to save those who approach God through you.
As smoke is driven away, as wax melts before the fire,
let my hubris and ambition vanish from your sight.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Ezek. 18:1-4, 19-32
Heb. 7:18-28
Luke 10:25-37

Selected Verses
Ps. 68:2
 As smoke is driven away, so drive [your enemies] away;
          as wax melts before the fire,
          let the wicked perish before God. 

Ezek. 18:30b
Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 

Heb. 7:25
Consequently [Jesus] is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Luke 10:29
But wanting to justify himself, [the lawyer] asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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