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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4 Oct 10
            Good morning, dear ones.
            The sun is shining here at 8:38am.  There are lots of things to stuff into this day.  Becki and Thano are already off and running to an appointment.
            May your day go well…as you remember that “Above all else, guard your heart (affections, attitudes, emotions), for it is the wellspring of life” (Prov. 4:23).  
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
4 October 2010
Passage: Hebrews 9:1-10
Focus: “But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year…” Hebrews 9:7.
            How often is sin present to exert influence in our lives as something to contend with?  I think we would need to say CONSTANTLY—24/7.  Under the old order how often did the high priest enter the Most Holy Place to make a blood offering “for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance?”  The answer: “Only once a year.” While this old order was superficially effective, “the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.  They are (were) only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—EXTERNAL regulations applying until the time of the new order” (Hebrews 9:9-10).
            Let’s again contrast that description with the super-superior high priestly ministry that Jesus affords through the NEW ORDER (which is INTERNAL—“Christ in you, the hope of glory”) where “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he ALWAYS (24/7) lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
            The Message translation describes Christ’s ministry this way (Hebrews 7:26-28): “So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs; completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in heaven itself.  Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins.  He’s done it, once and for all:  offered up himself as the sacrifice.  The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right.  But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect”—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—forever!
 
            “To say, ‘I’m not good enough to be a Christian,” is kind of like saying, ‘I’m not healthy enough to go to the hospital.’”