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.

Who Are We to Pass Judgment?--May 18, 2017

[From May 7, 2015 archive]

Blessed be your name, O God of our salvation.
You daily bear us up; how can we begin to
tell how much you have done for us?

And who are we to pass judgment
on servants of another--before
you we will all stand or fall.

Cleanse us from the guilt of
our sin against you; forgive the
guilt of our sin and rebellion, we pray.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Jer. 33:1-13
Rom. 14:1-12
Luke 8:26-39
           
Selected Verses
Ps. 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
          who daily bears us up;
          God is our salvation. Selah 

Jer. 33:8
I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.

Rom. 14:4
Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another?  It is before their own lord that they stand or fall.  And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Luke 8:38-39a
The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with [Jesus]; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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