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 Have Life--Jan. 30, 2020



To walk before you and be blameless
I cannot do, Jesus.
No one living is righteous before you,
and certainly not I.
I am reminded of my separation from you,
every hour, every day.
Yet by your grace, may I come to you
to have life.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
Gen. 16:15-17:14
Heb. 10:1-10
John 5:30-47

Selected Verses
Ps. 143:2
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
          for no one living is righteous before you.

Gen. 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.  …”

Heb. 10:3
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year.

John 5:40
“…Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.  …”  [Jesus, to those who were persecuting him]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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