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.

Our Portion Forever--Aug. 31, 2020

 

With you are strength and wisdom, God.

Fill us with faith and your Holy Spirit,

faithful to you with steadfast devotion.

 

Whether deceived or deceivers,

if we continue in your word,

we will know your truth,

and it will set us free.

 

Our flesh and our heart may fail,

but you are the strength of our heart

and our portion forever.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9

Job 12:1-6, 13-25

Acts 11:19-30

John 8:21-32

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail,
          but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 

Job 12:16

“…With [God] are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.  …”  [Job, to his friends]

 

Acts 11:23-24

When [Barnabas] came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

 

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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