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.

Make Me Your Own, Christ Jesus--Sept. 15, 2017


Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me your own, Christ Jesus.
Help me press on to reach the goal,
and sustain in me a willing spirit,
that I may bear fruit worthy of
repentance, for I want to
be your servant.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51, 148, 142, 65
1 Kings 18:20-40
Phil. 3:1-16
Matt. 3:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

1 Kings 18:36
At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding.  …"

Phil. 3:12
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 

Matt. 3:8
"…Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  …" [John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees, as they came for baptism] 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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