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.

Into the Hands of God--Feb. 1, 2020



Is anything too
wonderful for you?

The sight of Jesus walking
on the sea terrified the disciples.
Why should we fear what is good,
and seek what is fearful, Lord God?

I am not sure how falling into your
 hands could ever be a fearful thing,
but I am sure it is a fearful thing
not to have your right hand
upholding me in love.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Gen. 18:1-16
Heb. 10:26-39
John 6:16-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 63:1, 8
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
          my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
          as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  …

My soul clings to you;
          your right hand upholds me.

Gen. 18:14a
Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? 

Heb. 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

John 6:19-20
When [the disciples] had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.  But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)