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.

What Does Not Matter--Aug. 3, 2016

[From Aug. 8, 2012 archive]

We are made strong by faith in you; 
and when we are strong, it does not matter
how our achievements compare with another's.

John the Baptist praised Jesus and thereby lost
two disciples to him, but John did not care.
What matters is to bless your name.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
Judg. 7:19-8:12
Acts 3:12-26
John 1:29-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 134:2
 Lift up your hands to the holy place,
          and bless the LORD.

Judg. 8:2
So [Gideon] said to [the complaining Ephraimites], "What have I done now in comparison with you?  Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?  …"

Acts 3:16
"…And by faith in [Jesus'] name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.  …"

John 1:35-37
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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