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.

August 28, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
1 Kings 8:22-30 (31-40)
1 Timothy 4:7b-16
John 8:47-59

II. Selections
Ps. 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

1 Kings 8:23
[ King Solomon] said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart ..."

1 Tim. 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

John 8:47
"Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God." [ Jesus]

III. Meditation: Steadfast love for a steadfast heart
"Purity of heart is to will one thing." Kierkegaard

Awake, my soul!
O God of steadfast love, give me a steadfast heart, and I will sing and make melody. I will walk before you with all my heart. I am not from you, but Jesus is. Help me pay close attention to his words and hold them in my heart, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of my hearers.
Awake, my soul, and sing!

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