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.

Sins Melt Like Wax Before You--May 6, 2019


-->

Almighty God, you know everything;
our sins and iniquities melt like wax before you.
When our hearts condemn us, fill us with the power
of your Spirit, that we may love in truth and action,
for your power is greater than our hearts.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Dan. 4:19-27
1 John 3:19-4:6
Luke 4:14-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:5
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
          before the Lord of all the earth.

Dan. 4:27
"…Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged."  [Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar]

1 John 3:19-20
And by [loving in truth and action] we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

Luke 4:14-30
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)