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 Leader to Respect and Follow?--Nov. 27, 2018


What do we want you to do for us, Lord Jesus?
Perhaps give us a leader we can respect and follow:
who cares for the perishing, seeks the wandering,
heals the maimed, and nourishes the healthy;
a leader who does not lie with flattering
lips or speak with a double heart.

Remind us, Jesus, no matter who
our leaders are, we belong to you,
and you belong to God.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
Zech. 11:4-17
1 Cor. 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43

Selected Verses
Ps. 12:2
They utter lies to each other;
          with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Zech. 11:16
For I am now raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. 

1 Cor. 3:21-23
So let no one boast about human leaders.  For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Luke 18:40-41
Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"  He said, "Lord, let me see again." 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)