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.

God of Wrath, or God of Mercy?--Jan. 9, 2013

 
 Are you a God of wrath, or a God of mercy?
When you search our hearts and minds,
do you really give us what we deserve?

Is it that you are somewhat willing to
overlook our sinful ways, yet only to a point?

I would like to think there is no limit to your
compassion and forgiveness--that even though sin
 (separation from you) leads to inevitable consequences,
withdrawal of your love for us is not among them.

What hope is there for any of us
if we receive only what we deserve?

Teach us to walk a level path between the enemy of
being complacent over the consequences of sin
and the enemy of thinking what we have done
is beyond your redeeming power to forgive.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 46; 147:7-11; 27; 93
Isa. 63:1-5
Rev. 2:18-29
John 5:1-15

Selected Verses

Ps. 27:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
          and lead me on a level path
          because of my enemies.

Isa. 63:5
"…I looked, but there was no helper;
            I stared, but there was no one to sustain me;
so my own arm brought me victory,
            and my wrath sustained me.  …"
                        [The LORD, speaking of his vengeance on Edom]

Rev. 2:23b
"…And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.  …"  [Words quoted from The Son of God to the angel of the church in Thyatira]

John 5:14
Later Jesus found [the man he had cured] in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well!  Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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