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.

Service with Enthusiasm--Jan. 25, 2013


 Jesus, you speak the truth,
and you declare what is right.

You know our every movement,
and you discern our every thought.

Show us how to take you with us,
leaving behind the opinion of the crowd.

Inspire us to render service with enthusiasm,
knowing service to others is a way to serve you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Isa. 45:18-25
Eph. 6:1-9
Mark 4:35-41

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:2
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
          you discern my thoughts from far away.

Isa. 45:19c
  I the LORD speak the truth,
          I declare what is right.

Eph. 6:7-8
Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.

Mark 4:36a
And leaving the crowd behind, [the disciples] took [Jesus] with them in the boat, just as he was.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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