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  |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

30 Sept 10
            Good morning, dear people.
            Can you believe this is the last day of September?—already?
            Becki has already taken off with Thano to a doctor’s appointment.  She scrambled off without any breakfast.  So at 8:29am, I haven’t had any yet either.  Maybe I’ll scramble too—eggs, that is.
            Lots of work and challenge on the agenda today.  Let’s get on with it!
                        Blessings. Love.  Dad/Ray
 
30 September 2010
Passage: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Focus: “…let us hold firmly…our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14 and 16.
            Both verses 14 and 16 contain “LET US” (not “lettuce”).  They are calls to important action.  I’ll quote those verses here and highlight selected key words.
            “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, LET US hold firmly to the faith we profess…LET US then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
            I see a noteworthy similarity between those phrases “hold firmly” and “our time of need.”  In order to draw your attention to what I mean, let me raise two questions: HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH I PROFESS?  AND HOW OFTEN IS MY TIME OF NEED?  Of course, the answer to both questions is ALWAYS—ALL THE TIME—CONSTANTLY.  There’s the similarity.  This counters the dangerous notion that I can get away with being really serious about my faith on a part-time basis—or that my time of need is only occasional, as when I face some unexpected crisis.  If I understand anything about the principles of life and the realities of spiritual warfare, I suggest that we be positively engaged not some of the time, but all of the time.  The enemy of our souls never rests or goes on holidays.  Jesus made it clear that “without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Colossians 1:27 is an all-the-time principle—“Christ in you (constantly), the hope of glory.”  I think that’s why Paul exhorts us to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
            Let’s conclude by singing the chorus to I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR:
“I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee.
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.”
 
            “Prayer is not a last extremity—it is a first necessity.”