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.

Things We Must Not Do--July 15, 2014


We must not break a promise, but keep our word;
we must not stand before you in pride, but in awe;
we must not fear to fail in your work, but risk our best;
we must not become despondent, but remember you, O God.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Josh. 2:15-24
Rom. 11:13-24
Matt. 25:14-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:6b-c
My soul is cast down within me;
          therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
          from Mount Mizar. 

Josh. 2:20
"…But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you."  [The spies to Rahab]

Rom. 11:20b
So do not be proud, but stand in awe.

Matt. 25:25
"…so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.  Here you have what is yours.'  …"  [The one who had only one talent, to his master]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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