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.

January 16, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 1, 33, 89:1-18
Genesis 4:1-16
Hebrews 2:11-18
John 1:29-42

II. Selections
Psalm 1:4
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Genesis 4:7
" ...If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." [ The LORD to Cain]

Hebrews 2:18
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

John 1:38a
When Jesus turned and saw [ the two disciples of John] following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?"

III. Meditation: Like the chaff

What are we looking for-we who are
like the chaff that the wind drives away?
Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for
us; we must master it. You were tested;
pray help us in the time of our testing.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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