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.

Why Lose Heart?--Feb. 26, 2011


O God beyond all fleeting years,
past generations have vanished;
our outer nature is wasting away;
new generations will replace us.

Paul taught, there is no reason to lose heart;
day by day you will renew our inner nature.
Renewal comes not through display of piety
but from your faithfulness and steadfast love.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Ruth 4:1-22
2 Cor. 4:13-5:10
Matt. 6:1-6

Selected Verses
Ps. 100:5
For the LORD is good;
      his steadfast love endures forever,
      and his faithfulness to all generations.

Ruth 4:17
The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

2 Cor. 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

Matt. 6:1
“…Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. …” [Jesus to the crowds]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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