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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 29 July 10
                Good evening, special people.
                Things have been pretty intense around here…for more reasons than one. Looks like I’ve missed another devotional entry yesterday.  Not sure how tomorrow will go either…as I have to leave about 6am to finish up a milling job.
                In spite of all the work and pressure, we still want to get ready to go out and get some tuna when they come in closer off the Oregon Coast.
                God is good…even when life is tough.  Blessings.
                                Dad/Ray
 
29 July 2010
Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:2
Focus: “We live by faith, not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7.
                It’s a simple statement—only 6 words.  It makes very little sense to the typical unbeliever, but for those of us who have been touched by the Spirit of God, it is a profound description of our orientation and perspective.  It’s a matter of believing God over our own feelings (senses).
                Paul just gave us a faith standard for our perspective in the last verse of Chapter 4: “So we fix our eyes (eyes of faith) not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).  Let’s keep looking at what can’t be seen.
                Let’s review some of the qualities of faith as contained in this passage: (1) I haven’t seen it or been there yet, but I believe I am headed toward immortality with the Lord (vv. 1-10).  (2) Since that status is conditional, by faith I make it my “goal to please him” (v. 9) and “fear the Lord” (v. 11).  (3) I will participate in an unavoidable examination before “the judgment seat of Christ” (v. 10).  (4) A huge amount of motivation is afforded me in the demonstration of the love of Christ (v. 14).  (5) I have been given the “ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18) and my job description is like that of an “ambassador for Christ” (v. 20).
 
                “God’s part we cannot do—our part God will not do.”