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.

Precious in Your Sight, O God--Sept. 22, 2017

[From Sept. 20, 2013 archive]

We are glad in you--we rejoice and shout for joy.
We are your temple, and your Spirit dwells in us,
Lord God; our life is precious in your sight.
May our life shine before others, that
they may see your good works
and give you the glory.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
2 Kings 1:2-17
1 Cor. 3:16-23
Matt. 5:11-16

Selected Verses
Ps. 32:11
 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous,  
          and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

2 Kings 1:14
"…Look, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight."  [The third captain of fifty to Elijah]

1 Cor. 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Matt. 5:16
"…In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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