2007 picture of Ray SparreInsightful 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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11 September 2010
Passage: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Focus: “Do not give the devil a foothold.”  Ephesians 4:27
            We recently watched an old basketball video between the pros of the Celtics and the Lakers.  Those guys are hot.  They’re all so good on both offense and defense that no one is going to win by just speed and skillful ball handling alone.  The name of the game seems to be fake, surprise, and distraction.  The opponent is watching intensely for a slight twitch or glance in the other direction to afford the opportunity for the break or pass that can move the ball in for a goal.  In like manner, we believers have an opponent (more than professional) that is just as intent on finding in us any flicker of distraction or error that can provide him opportunity to catch us off guard and move in for a goal.  The adversary has a lot of slick tricks and moves up his sleeve.  After all, he has chalked up a lot more experience than any of us.  Sadly, there are far too many believers who do not seem to have a clue as to what’s happening.
            I’ve extracted from the reading (and beyond…dipping also into tomorrow’s reading) what I might call SEVENTEEN FOUL AND FOOLISH FOOTHOLDS TO FEAR AND FORSAKE.  I’ll make the list without commentary.  Isn’t it possible that any one of these, if accepted or accommodated by a believer, could serve as an opportunity for the enemy to move in and gain the upper hand (or the upper foot?) in our lives and inflict some damage. “Anyone…who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17).
1)       Falsehood (4:25)

2)      Anger (4:26)

3)      Stealing (4:28)

4)      Laziness (implied) (4:28)

5)      Unwholesome talk (4:29)

6)      Grieve the Holy Spirit (willful disobedience) (4:30)

7)      Bitterness (4:31)

8)      Rage (4:31)

9)      Brawling (4:31)

10)  Slander (4:31)

11)  All forms of malice (4:31)

12)  Sexual immorality (5:3)

13)  All kinds of impurity (pornography) (5:3)

14)  Greed (5:3)

15)  Obscenity (5:4)

16)  Foolish talk (5:4)

17)  Coarse joking (5:4)

It would seem to me that “your former way of life” that we are instructed to “put off” in verse 22 is essentially one and the same with the instruction to “not give the devil a foothold” in verse 27.  I think this list can serve as a practical identification of both.  Let’s pay attention.
 
            “The devil is never too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping backslider.”