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 02, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 7, 12, 36
Job 12:1; 13:3-17, 21-27
Acts 12:1-17
John 8:33-47

II. Selections
Psalm 7:9
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous,
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God.

Job 13:9
Will it be well with you when [ God] searches you out? ;
Or can you deceive him, as one person deceives another?

Acts 12:16
Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when [ the guests who had gathered to pray for him] opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed.

John 8:46
" ...Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ... " [ Jesus]

III. Meditation: You test the mind and heart

O righteous God, you test the mind and heart;
if you search us out, it will not be well with us.
We pray for deliverance-why are we surprised
when our request for deliverance is granted?

When you tell the truth, why do we not believe
you? Do we suppose we can convict you of sin?
Why should we try to deceive you? Let evil and
wickedness be ended; establish righteousness.

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