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.

To Know God Without Seeing God--April 9, 2018


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The world sees your works, O God, and trembles;
the Israelites saw them, and out of fear believed
in you and in your servant Moses.

Although we your people have not seen Christ,
we love him, believe in him, and rejoice with
an indescribable and glorious joy.

The world has not received the Spirit of Truth
because it neither sees you nor knows you,
but your people know you, because you
abide with them, and you are in them.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Exod. 14:21-31
1 Peter 1:1-12
John 14:1-17

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:4
[The LORD's] lightnings light up the world;
          the earth sees and trembles. 

Exod. 14:31
Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians.  So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

1 Peter 1:8-9
Although you have not seen [Jesus Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 14:17
This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.  …"  [Jesus to Philip]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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