The Choice
I. Readings
Psalms 84, 150, 42, 32
Genesis 44:1-17
Romans 8:1-10
John 5:25-29
II. Selections
Psalm 84:10
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
Genesis 44:12-13
[Joseph’s steward] searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. At this [Joseph’s brothers] tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.
Romans 8:6
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
John 5:25
“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. … ” [Jesus to the ones who were seeking a way to kill him]
III. Meditation
We make our choices about life and death.
Joseph’s brothers chose to return to him
and—as far as they knew—to slavery
rather than make their father suffer
the loss of Benjamin. So choosing,
they gained life and freedom.
The psalmist would rather live one day in
your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
To set the mind on the flesh is death,
said Paul; but to set the mind on the
Spirit is life and peace.
By your grace, give us the will to choose
life with you, that we may hear your
voice and live in your presence.
Meditations inspired by readings from the Daily Lectionary as found in the Mission Yearbook of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Elmer E. Ewing
- 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.
"Elijah" - A bronze sculpture by a friend, the late Reverend Gurdon Brewster. Click on the image to see more of his sculptures.
Archives
Samples from the archives
- 3/19/18 Remedy for Hubris--A Child Could Do It
- 2/25/14 Unbind me, Jesus
- 10/26/13 Refreshing hearts, in Christ
- 8/9/13 When things I do displease you, God
- 2/7/13 Freed, saved, gathered in
- 1/1/13 For a joy that is complete
- 11/20/12 Though the fig tree does not blossom
- 11/19/12 Alas, my house is set on high
- 10/14/12 Held in your arms
- 9/14/12 The land cries out against us
- 8/29/12 The snare of false accusation
- 8/5/12 Tie up the strong man
- 4/5/12 We who dip bread
- 9/23/10 The right to be joyful
- 9/18/10 Chief cornerstone
- 7/27/10 Triumph over enemies
- 10/9/08 Our iniquity is great
- 5/14/08 When at night
- 2/17/08 The thin and ugly
- 1/17/07 We do not know you
- 1/3/07 Promises
- 1/2/07 For things not seen
- 10/3/06 Fear of you
- 10/2/06 Little we know
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