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.

When the Gift Is Not Accepted--Feb. 25, 2021

 

Gracious and loving God, 

our light and our salvation, 

the stronghold of our lives—

what you give is not always 

what we willingly receive.

 

You so loved the world that

you have given us your Son—

 but good news does not benefit, 

if neither trusting nor obeying

we rebel and will not listen.

 

Of whom shall we be afraid?

Of ourselves, when we refuse 

the good gift that you offer.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102

Deut. 9:23-10:5

Heb. 4:1-10

John 3:16-21

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
          whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
          of whom shall I be afraid?

 

Deut. 9:23

And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, “Go up and occupy the land that I have given you,” you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God, neither trusting him nor obeying him.

 

Heb. 4:2

For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  …”  [Jesus, to Nikodemus]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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