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.

Whose Approval Do I Seek?--Jan. 28, 2013


 O God Most High, how can you fulfill your purpose for me
when I seek to please people more than to please you,
and what matters most to me is human approval?

And how can I receive your approval when I am obstinate,
with a neck like an iron sinew, a forehead of brass?

Jairus was a leader of the synagogue; but when Jairus saw
Jesus, he fell at his feet.  Make me humble like him.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
Isa. 48:1-11
Gal. 1:1-17
Mark 5:21-43

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:2
I cry to God Most High,
          to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Isa. 48:4
Because I know that you are obstinate,
          and your neck is an iron sinew
          and your forehead brass…
[The LORD addressing Israel]

Gal. 1:10
Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval?  Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Mark 5:22
Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet


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