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 Be Free Indeed--March 29, 2019



Many, many times you have rescued me
from the horns of the wild ox, O God,
but then how quickly I forget you,
as stubbornly I walk according
to my own selfish will!

Am I a slave to sin?
Christ died to make us free,
to make us free indeed.
Make me dead to sin
and alive to you
in Christ.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 22; 148; 105; 130
Jer. 11:1-8, 14-17
Rom. 6:1-11
John 8:33-47

Selected Verses
Ps. 22:21b
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me. 

Jer. 11:8a
Yet [your ancestors] did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of an evil will.  [[The LORD to Jeremiah]]

Rom. 6:7, 10-11
For whoever has died is freed from sin.  …The death [Christ] died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

John 8:34-36
Jesus answered [his accusers], "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever.  So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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