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.

Built Together into a Dwelling Place for God--Jan. 12, 2017


Through your steadfast love, power belongs to you, O God.
Compared to what you can do, our work amounts to nothing--
but join us together in Christ, build us together spiritually
into a dwelling-place for you, and we will be amazed
and glorify you for all that you can do through us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
Isa. 41:17-29
Eph. 2:11-22
Mark 2:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 62:11-12a
Once God has spoken;
          twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
          and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. 

Isa. 41:24
 You, indeed, are nothing
          and your work is nothing at all;
          whoever chooses you is an abomination.

Eph. 2:21-22
In [Christ] the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Mark 2:12
And [the paralytic] stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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