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.

Full of Boastful Confidence--June 11, 2013


 We are full of boastful confidence; with our tongues
we will prevail; our lips are our own--who is our master?

But this kind of talk is not made with your authority;
it is the talk of fools, and we deserve to lose our tongues.

We should be Zacchaeus up a tree, to try to see Jesus.
We should choose life, hold fast to Jesus, love him, obey.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
Deut. 30:11-20
2 Cor. 11:1-21a
Luke 19:1-10

Selected Verses

Ps. 12:3-4
 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
          the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
          our lips are our own--who is our master?”

Deut. 30:19b-20a
Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him…  [Moses to the Israelites]

2 Cor. 11:17
What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord's authority, but as a fool…

Luke 19:2-3a
A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.  He was trying to see who Jesus was…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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