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.

April 22, 2010

Tested

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 147:12-20, 68, 113
Exodus 20:1-21
Colossians 1:24-2:7
Matthew 4:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 68:30
Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample under foot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.

Exodus 20:20
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”

Colossians 2:6-7
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

III. Meditation

Lord Jesus Christ, you know about temptation;
you were led into the wilderness to be tempted.
Have we become a people who delight in war?

Forgive our lust for material things, that we
bull our way over the nations, that we trample
and kill to protect our wealth and privilege.

We sin as if we have no fear of you, or as if
we do not understand that what we do is sin.
O Lord, if you test us, how shall we survive?

Grant that we may receive you as Lord and
live our lives in you, rooted and built up in you;
for when tested you did not yield to temptation.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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