Insightful Musings on the New Testament
by
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67

Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.

Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray is following, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010.

|  Daily Reading Guide  |  2010 Devotion Archives  |
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 18 May 10
    Good morning, dear ones.
    Wow...when I came in from my jog, it was raining.  Now at 8:37am it looks beautiful out there with the morning sun shining through the trees.  I can use some nice weather out there.
    Yesterday we brought Daisy in to see the vet to have her broken leg examined in hopes of having her cast removed...after 10 weeks.  The xray justified its removal.  There were a couple complications though.  (1) The end of the cast had not been able to dry out sufficiently and some infection set into her foot.  We were given antibiotics to deal with that.  (2) The bill for this visit was over $140.  Whew!
    Lots to deal with today...so I'd better get on with dealing.
    Keep your head and heart screwed on straight and have a great day.
        Love, Dad/Ray
 
18 May 2010
Passage:  Luke 3
Focus:  “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor...”  Luke 3:17
            In chapter 2 we encounter old man Simeon at the temple in Jerusalem who pronounces a special prophecy over baby Jesus.  He said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against” (Luke 2:34). The theme of this prophecy, in other words, is that this baby would grow to become a dividing line between the SAVED and the LOST.  Now, in chapter 3, we have another prophecy concerning Jesus coming from a different instrument, “John the Baptist,” but the theme is basically the same.  It foretells Jesus as performing a work of separation among men, as one would separate wheat from the chaff.  John said, “I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn (Heaven), but he will burn (Hell) up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16-17). 
            The important and valid point to make from this is that no one can be neutral in relation to Jesus Christ.  The ultimate choice facing all men is BARN or BURN.  Either one is for Him, seeking Him, trusting Him and SAVED by Him, or he is against Him, rejecting Him, indifferent to Him, ignoring Him, and LOST.  Any attempt to cast a neutral vote constitutes a vote against Christ.  If Jesus really is the One and Only hope for salvation from sin and its consequences (Jn. 14:6), how could it be otherwise?
            This is just another reminder concerning the importance of Christ.  He’s not only the Axis of all human history, but also the Axis of all human destiny.
 
            “Jesus:  view Him not as a law-giver, but a life-giver.”