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.

Destined not for Wrath--May 1, 2018


O God, you have destined us not for wrath,
but for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from
the evil one.  Cleanse us from all our sin, and 
make us clean before you; loosen our
bonds and set us free to be
your servants.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Lev. 16:20-34
1 Thess. 5:1-11
Matt. 6:7-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:16
O LORD, I am your servant;
          I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
          You have loosed my bonds. 

Lev. 16:30
For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. 

1 Thess. 5:9-10
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 

Matt. 6:13
"…And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.  …"  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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