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.

The Child of Your Serving Girl--Sept. 26, 2013


You have loosed my bonds, O God;
I am your servant, the child
of your serving girl.

I am your servant; may nothing else
dominate me--neither the desire
for earthly power and fame
nor the wish to impress
others with my piety.

Only may I too be
 your servant.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
2 Kings 9:1-16
1 Cor. 6:12-20
Matt. 6:1-6; 16-18

Selected Verses

Ps. 116:16
O LORD, I am your servant;
          I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
          You have loosed my bonds.

2 Kings 9:14
Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.

1 Cor. 6:12
"All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial.  “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Matt. 6:1
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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