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.

Lest You Reject Us--July 16, 2012



We ponder what kind of preparation
you expect your people to take,
O Jesus, lest you reject us.

Are we to follow Rahab's example,
seek out what kinds of deals
we can make to escape?

Or is it more helpful to remember that
you are faithful in all your words,
gracious in all your deeds?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29
Josh. 2:1-14
Rom. 11:1-12
Matt. 25:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:13b
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
      and gracious in all his deeds.

Josh. 2:14
The [spies] said to [Rahab the prostitute], "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land."

Rom. 11:1a, 2a
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? … God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

Matt. 25:11-12
"… Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But [the bridegroom] replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' …" [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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