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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23 June 10
            Good morning, dear people.
            Sure is pretty out there now at 8:56am.  A jog with the dogs, bath, breakfast are all past tense…now I need to tense up for the future…the work of the day.  Soooo much to do…with soooo much good fishing going on at the coast…and I can’t get there.  Maybe some time…
            Blessings.
                                                          Dad/Ray
 
23 June 2010
Passage: Luke 21:5-38
Focus: “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” Luke 21:32.
            When Jesus says THIS GENERATION, which generation does He mean?  At first it would seem that He means the one He’s speaking to.  But verse 24 could offer a key toward resolving the question more accurately. “Jerusalem will be trampled on…until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”  So the focus moves to a period of time in the future which we understand to have begun with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. with the dispersion of the Jews to all parts of the world.  Then Jesus goes on to describe some general events that will characterize the period following the “times of the Gentiles.”  Of particular interest to me is the phrasing that says, “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…”  The fact that man now has at his disposal the incredible technology to absolutely destroy this planet generates the highest level of global apprehension every known.  Then Jesus adds to His description this comment in verse 27: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  He says something similar in verse 31.  I believe that one way to understand all this is to recognize that Jesus is announcing the coming of a generation that will see these end-time prophecies begin to take place.  And it is likely that it is the generation that witnesses such beginnings that is meant when He says THIS GENERATION.  Furthermore, it is very likely that THIS GENERATION is THIS generation…the one we’re in right now.  How so?  Because we are seeing things begin to come together socially, politically, internationally, technologically, and spiritually like no generation has ever witnessed before!
            Does this make sense?  Does it have any influence on your desire to be alert and ready?  I don’t know about you, but I have a strong sense that we are fast approaching the finish line of the “times of the Gentiles” which could also be called “The Church Age.” I have a hunch that the count-down for THIS GENERATION has already begun…and possibly near completion.  Think about it.
 
            “Therefore be ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.”  Matt. 24:44, KJV.