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.

Bold Faith, Like the Centurion's--May 14, 2018


O Lord our God,
you are faithful in all your words
and gracious in all your deeds.
Through Christ Jesus our Lord,
we have access to you.

Like the Centurion,
may our faith in Christ
make us bold and confident--
there is no reason to be frightened
or dismayed, for wherever we go,
you are with us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Josh. 1:1-9
Eph. 3:1-13
Matt. 8:5-17

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:13b
The LORD is faithful in all his words,
          and gracious in all his deeds. 

Josh. 1:9
"…I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  [The LORD to Joshua]

Eph. 3:11-12
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. 

Matt. 8:13
And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith."  And the servant was healed in that hour.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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