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.

How We Ought to Live to Please God--Dec. 2, 2016


Lord Jesus, you regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and did not despise it.  Should we?
You called out those who ground the face of the poor,
who devoured widows' houses,
and then for the sake of appearance said long prayers.
Does that describe us?
You showed us how we ought to live and please God.
When will we do so?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 102; 148; 130; 16
Isa. 3:1-4:1
1 Thess. 4:1-12
Luke 20:41-21:4
           
Selected Verses
Ps. 102:17
[The LORD] will regard the prayer of the destitute,
          and will not despise their prayer. 

Isa. 3:15
What do you mean by crushing my people,
          by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord GOD of hosts.

1 Thess. 4:1
Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. 

Luke 20:47
"… [The scribes] devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation."  [Jesus to his disciples, in the hearing of all the people]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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