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.

God Justifies the Ungodly--March 8, 2021

 

Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, 

all your works give thanks to you.

 

We come before you to amend our ways

and our doings, not to boast of our works.

 

Forgive us when we seek our own glory, 

when we feel justified by our goodness.

 

The glory all belongs to you,

you justify the ungodly.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6

Jer. 7:1-15

Rom. 4:1-12

John 7:14-36

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 145:10-11

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
          and all your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
          and tell of your power…

 

Jer. 7:3-4

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place.  Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.”

 

Rom. 4:2, 5

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  …But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

 

John 7:18

“…Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.  …”  [Jesus, to the crowd]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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