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.

If We Open the Door…--Dec. 17, 2019



Lord Jesus, your salvation is at hand,
that your glory may dwell in our land.
You are near, very near, at our very gates;
you stand at the door, knocking for us to open,
and if we open you will come in to dwell in our midst.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 33; 146; 85; 94
Zech. 2:1-13
Rev. 3:14-22
Matt. 24:32-44

Selected Verses
Ps. 85:9
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
          that his glory may dwell in our land.

Zech. 2:11a
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. 

Rev. 3:20
“…Listen!  I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.  …”  [The words of the Amen, to the church in Laodicea]

Matt. 24:33
“…So also, when you see all these things, you know that [the Son of Man] is near, at the very gates.  …”  [Jesus, to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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