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.

September 22, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
2 Kings 9:1-16
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

II. Selections
Ps. 143:10
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.

2 Kings 9:16
Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, where Joram was lying ill. King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.

1 Cor. 6:12
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.

Matt. 6:1
"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ..."

III. Meditation: Jehu mounted his chariot
Make me pious, not for others to see-only you. Protect me from domination by anything except the desire to do your will, for you are my God. No other thing is beneficial. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path, neither up the mountain of power and ambition nor down into the abyss of despair. Jehu mounted his chariot; make me content to walk.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)