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.

Free to Choose--Oct. 4, 2019


You have made me free to choose, O God;
before you I spread out my troubles;
teach me the way I should go.

I am free with respect to all—
make me your servant,
and I will be clean.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
2 Kings 19:1-20
1 Cor. 9:16-27
Matt. 8:1-17

Selected Verses
Ps. 25:12
Who are they that fear the LORD?
          He will teach them the way that they should choose.

2 Kings 19:14
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.

1 Cor. 9:19
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Matt. 8:2-3a
“…and there was a leper who came to [Jesus] and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”  He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose.  Be made clean!” 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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