Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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11 May 10
    Dear ones,
    I guess it's about as late now as it was yesterday when I sent the devotional.  It's presently 4:33pm.  I didn't do milling today.  Too much else to deal with.  And even though it's garbage out day, I didn't get it out...which makes me wonder, what if we never took it out.  Can you imagine what a place would soon look like if there was NO garbage removal.  Can you imagine how difficult it would be to cope with yourself if you had no means of garbage removal from your own heart?  Oops.  There I go starting to meddle again.
    Have a great rest of the day.  And make sure you take out the garbage.
        Love, Dad/Ray

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11 May 2010
Passage:  James 3:14-4:12
Focus:  “There is one Lawgiver and Judge.”  James 4:12

            In a world that is riddled and splintered by a very broad spectrum of man’s perspectives, opinions, and choices, I‘m finding this reminder very encouraging; “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you—who are you to judge (condemn) your neighbor?”
            If these words are true, the One who has the last word concerning every issue, the final decision to every controversy, the absolute answer to every question, the complete solution to every mystery, is also the One who determines final destiny—like ETERNAL DESTINY.  Perhaps the last part of that verse could be appropriately paraphrased something like this:  “Based on these facts, who in the world do you think you are to use yourself as the standard of measurement and pose as one capable and qualified to pass right judgments on other people when you have such a tough time making right judgments about yourself?”
            Think about it.  And as you do, please agree with me that it makes a lot of sense to diligently seek this Sovereign Lawgiver and Judge, and to know something about His laws and standards for judgment.  I may be kind of biases here, but I think you need look no further than your Bible.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (right relationship with the “one Lawgiver and Judge”), for they will be filled” (Mtt. 5:6).