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.

Utensils in God's Service--Feb. 9, 2017


Savior, Redeemer, Mighty One of Jacob--
and also, King.  Let the earth rejoice,
the most remote places be glad,
that the world is in your hands.
It is to you, not to an earthly ruler,
that we ask what we must do to be saved.
Cleanse us, we pray, that we may be utensils
in your service, useful, ready for every good work.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
Isa. 60:1-22
2 Tim. 2:14-26
Mark 10:17-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:1
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;
          let the many coastlands be glad! 

Isa. 60:16b
…and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
          and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

2 Tim. 2:21
All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. 

Mark 10:17
As [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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