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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15 Sept 10
            Greetings on a wet evening.
            My head wants to shut down…but I want to get this off before I yield to the bed.  It’s been a very full day.  It’s now 9:51pm.
            Sleep tight.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
15 September 2010
Passage: Philippians 1
Focus: “…the day of Christ.”  Philippians 1:6, 10.
            “The day of Christ” is mentioned twice in this passage.  What does it suggest?  I think it points to that time when we believers will be transitioned from here to there…when “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn 3:2).  It refers to the completion and fulfillment of the work of Christ in our behalf.  It clearly implies a great finish line or terminus of our course here on planet earth.  Be reminded that WE AREN’T THERE YET.
            Did you catch the word PARTNERSHIP? (v. 5)  That’s what our faith really is…a PARTNERSHIP.  That thought stood out to me when we were in Ephesians 2:10 where Paul mentioned that “we are His  WORKMANSHIP.” It is good to understand that God’s WORKMANSHIP is a PARTNERSHIP where two parties are at work in the same task or business, each required to do their part, each engaged in FELLOWSHIP.  (Hey, there’s a simple 3-point message for you…WORKMANSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, FELLOWSHIP.)  What happens in a business partnership when one side does not do his part?  The whole thing fails.  One thing for sure:  If there is any kind of failure linked with our faith and its completion, the blame cannot be placed on His side.  “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  It is on our part to do all that needs to be done to give Him the freedom to do all that needs to be done to make it all complete.
            In this great process between now and then there are constant choices to be faced and made.  I guarantee you will face some today.  Do your utmost to use your God-given gift of intelligent thought, along with the Living Word (the Spirit) to “discern what is best.”  Best for who?  Best for you, your future, your family, your relationships...for God and the completion of His work in you.  The Message Translation puts verses 9 to 11 this way:  “…that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.  Learn to love appropriately.  You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.  Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of:  bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.”
 
            “A man doesn’t become a failure until he is satisfied with being one.”