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.

The Race that Is Set Before Us--Feb. 10, 2019


Our refuge is in you, O God,
for great is your steadfast love,
and your faithfulness endures forever.  

The things we idolize have no substance;
fame and glory, wealth and prestige,
all these are fleeting as the wind.

Even our righteous acts and our works
will not help us; we must lay aside
every weight and sin that clings
so closely, and look to Jesus,
the race he sets before us.
He bids the thirsty drink.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
Isa. 57:1-13
Heb. 12:1-6
John 7:37-46

Selected Verses
Ps. 117:2
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
          and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Isa. 57:12-13
 I will concede your righteousness and your works,
          but they will not help you.
When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
          The wind will carry them off,
          a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land
          and inherit my holy mountain.

Heb. 12:1-2b
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…

John 7:37-38a
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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