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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 17 June 2010
            Good morning, dear ones.
            Lots and lots on the agenda.  I had better not linger.  I’ll stay here just long enough to say, “May God bless you!”…and remind you that He can’t really do that in the fullest sense without you seeking Him. 
            Love and prayers, Dad/Ray
 
17 June 2010
Passage: Luke 17:20-18:14
Focus: “Remember Lot’s wife!” Luke 17:32.
            The Sunday School teacher said, “Lot’s wife looked back, and turned into a pillar of salt.”  Little Johnny spoke up and said, “Last week, when my mom was taking me to school, she looked back and turned into a telephone pole.”
            Let’s see if we can gather some of the reasons for Jesus instructing us to “remember Lot’s wife.”  There’s more to consider than that she “turned into a pillar of salt.”  May I suggest you read the story again in Genesis 19?  Additionally, let me offer these observations:  (Perhaps I’ll do so in SAVED-LOST terms.)
            ALTHOUGH SHE WAS CHOSEN TO BE SAVED, SHE WAS LOST.
            ALTHOUGH SHE KNEW HOW TO BE SAVED, SHE WAS LOST.
            ALTHOUGH HER LIFE WAS IMPACTED BY SUPERNATURAL DIVINE ENCOUNTERS, SHE WAS LOST.
            ALTHOUGH SHE WAS ALMOST SAVED, SHE WAS LOST.
            ALTHOUGH SHE HAD ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED, SHE WAS LOST.
            Obviously, Lot’s wife failed to internalize the message of salvation.  She failed to apply it at the heart level.  Don’t you think that’s what Jesus was emphasizing in verses 20 and 21?  “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”  From this clear statement of truth, I have no alternative but to draw this fundamental deduction: IF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT WITHIN ME, I AM NOT WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  Duh!  What a revolutionary idea!
 
            “To be almost saved is to be totally lost.”