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.

A Ground for Boasting?--Oct. 5, 2017


Of course it is wrong
to boast as the king of Assyria did,
but it is also wrong to brag on how faithful
we have been to you--you made that clear, Jesus
(though even Paul seemed to yield to the temptation).
No matter how we have walked in our integrity,
or trusted you without wavering, we cannot
earn our vindication--Paul knew that.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
2 Kings 18:28-37
1 Cor. 9:1-15
Matt. 7:22-29

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:1
Vindicate me, O LORD,
          for I have walked in my integrity,
          and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 

2 Kings 18:29-30
"…Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand.  Do not let Hezekiah make you rely on the LORD by saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'  …"  [Rabshakeh, speaking for the king of Assyria to the people of Judah]

1 Cor. 9:15
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that--no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!

Matt. 7:22-23
"…On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?'  Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'   …"  [Jesus, to the crowds on the mountain]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)