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.

When I Strain out a Gnat and Swallow a Camel--Dec. 12, 2013


 When I strain out a gnat and swallow a camel, 
shake me, O God, as one shakes with
a sieve, until I listen to what
your Spirit is saying.
Reach down from
on high and take me;
draw me out of mighty waters.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126; 62

Amos 9:1-10
Rev. 2:8-17
Matt. 23:13-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 18:16

[The LORD] reached down from on high, he took me;
            he drew me out of mighty waters.

Amos 9:9
For lo, I will command,
            and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
            but no pebble shall fall to the ground.

Rev. 2:11a
Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Matt. 23:24
"…You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!  …"  [Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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