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 05, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 7, 12, 36
Judges 7:1-18
Acts 3:1-11
John 1:19-28

II. Selections
Psalm 36:2
For [ the wicked] flatter themselves in their own eyes
that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Judges 7:2
The LORD said to Gideon, "The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, 'My own hand has delivered me.' "

Acts 3:5
And [ the lame beggar] fixed his attention on [ Peter and John], expecting to receive something from them.

John 1:23
[ John the Baptist] said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make straight the way of the Lord.' "

III. Meditation: In our own eyes, we flatter ourselves

Your way is straight, ours is crooked.
We take credit for what you have done.
We want material gifts, yours are spiritual.
We flatter ourselves that you will not find out.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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