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 Trust in God’s Love--July 5, 2021

[From July 6, 2009 archive]

 

There are many ways to sin against you; but do not 

all boil down to this: we fail to trust in your love?

 

If we would pour out our heart before you, you would

save us from our sinful ways.  You would teach us

 

to care for one another, as believers risked their lives

to aid Paul, or as Joseph of Arimathea risked his to

 

bury Jesus.  You are a refuge for us, and when 

you are, you teach us to be a refuge for others.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9

1 Sam. 15:1-3; 7-23

Acts 9:19b-31

Luke 23:44-56

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people;

            pour out your heart before him;

            God is a refuge for us.   Selah

 

1 Sam. 15:23

“…For rebellion is no less a sin than divination,

            and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,

            he has also rejected you from being king.”

[Samuel to Saul]

 

Acts 9:30

When the believers learned of it, they brought [Saul] down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

 

Luke 23:44-56a

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action.  He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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