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.

No Need to Instruct You, O God--Dec. 21, 2015


God Our Savior, you have saved us--
not because of any works of righteousness
we have done, but according to your mercy.
Far be it from us to instruct you what to do,
but happy are all who put their trust in you
to fulfill the words you have spoken.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 145; 40; 67
2 Sam. 7:1-17
Titus 2:11-3:8a
Luke 1:39-56

Selected Verses
Ps. 40:4a
Happy are those who make
          the LORD their trust…

2 Sam. 7:5
Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?  [The LORD to Nathan]

Titus 3:5a
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy…

Luke 1:45
"…And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.  …"  [Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking of Mary]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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