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 the Time of Trial is Near--July 21, 2014


You are near to all who call on you,
near to all who call on you in truth.

Though I think my spirit's willing,
God, you know my flesh is weak.

As I come into the time of trial,
I fall upon my face before you.

It is time to wake from sleep,
to stay awake and pray.

Give me strength
to stand.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
Josh. 7:1-13
Rom. 13:8-14
Matt. 26:36-46

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
          to all who call on him in truth. 

Josh. 7:10-11a
The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up!  Why have you fallen upon your face?  Israel has sinned…"

Rom. 13:11
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. 

Matt. 26:41
"…Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  [Jesus to Peter]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)