Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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March 28, 2010
            Good day, dear people.
            It’s warmer today here in New York.  I’d say about 45degrees.  We just returned from church with Jill and Joanna.  It’s a huge Bible Baptist church.  The message was an outstanding exposition of Matthew 18.
            The big party bash was last night surrounding Joanna’s 16th birthday and her adoption celebration.  It was fun…even though we wore ear plugs some of the time to protect us from audio damage.  Know what I mean?  I’ve often wondered how people can ride in those cars equipped with those big bass woofers that make your car bounce when you’re a hundred yards away.  We gained a bit of experiential explanation last night.
            Tuesday will be our travel day back to Oregon.  Besides the benefit of reconnecting with family, one of the other good things about this trip is that it kind of forced me to get this new computer up and running.  I think it will prove to be an asset.  Without this added pressure, I guess I tend to be controlled by the treadmill of urgency.  Don’t look at me like that—I bet you are too.
            I guess if we were to view the day as a race, we’re three hours ahead of you on the West Coast.  But we’ll drop back and join you soon. Blessings.
                        Dad/Ray

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28 March 2010
Passage: Acts 27:1-26
Focus: “…Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.” Acts 27:3.

            There are many tidbits of inspiration that can flow out of this account of Paul’s trip to Rome.  I’m choosing to give some thought here to the positive benefit of friends.  I’m blessed with many.  And so was Paul.
            Being very familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures, Paul probably knew by memory Proverbs 18:24: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (KJV).  I see evidence that Paul was all of that—not the type to be withdrawn and keep to himself—that he was very outgoing and aggressively friendly. It was by being friendly and proving himself trustworthy that Julius, the Roman centurion, even allowed Paul the high privilege to go ashore at Sidon to visit his friends there.  It sure is nice to have friends at a time like that.  He was probably able to get a much-needed bath, have his clothes washed, and get some good food.  But best of all, he was able to get some social, emotional, and spiritual encouragement from just being with friends.  That phenomenon is called fellowship.  And that’s good.
            Someone has said that “a friend is one who can see through your act—but still enjoys the show.”  However we define it, good friends are special and valuable people who will believe in you and support you when others don’t.  Good friends will listen and share in both your tribulations and triumphs.  And when true friends see in you a “blind spot”—some flaw of character that needs attention, they will find ways to talk to you about it.  A good description of this kind of true friend is seen in the “Love Chapter of the Bible”—1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
            Of course, a person can have people around them who are called friends, but function like “bad apples”—bad friends—those who influence others toward wrong views and wrong doing.  You can normally tell a lot about a person’s character by whom he chooses as friends. Jesus showed a positive and commendable exception to this by befriending those despised by others in order to minister to them (Mtt. 11:19).  But as a general rule, Proverbs 13:20 speaks volumes: “He that walketh (finds friendship) with wise men shall be wise; but a companion (friend) of fools will be destroyed” (KJV).
            Do everything you can to be of “good friend” quality.  And take time to contemplate your highest privilege and potential of being a friend with God (Jn. 15:14; Ja. 2:23).