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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13 Oct 10
            Greetings, dear people.
            Wow!...the sun has just burst through the trees out this window.  It’s gorgeous.  Now if I can just get all my tasks and activities to conform…that too would be gorgeous.  Nevertheless, I’ve been around the block enough times to know that even days that I don’t label as gorgeous are those “the Lord has made,” which means that I’m still obligated to be in rejoice mode.
            Be good.  Be blessed.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
13 October 2010
Passage: Titus 1-2
Focus: “Do not let anyone despise you.”  Titus 2:15.
            Now just a minute—how in the world do you prevent someone from despising you?  One approach could go like this: Grab the despiser by the collar with your left hand, wave your right fist in his face, and say, “If you don’t stop despising me, I’m going to knock your teeth down your throat!”  I strongly recommend that you not opt for that approach.
            I think the verse needs some clarification.  My best hunch is that there is one little word or thought that should be added to the sentence—“legitimately.”  In fact it is there implicitly.  So I reason that the main idea goes like this: “Do not give anyone any legitimate or valid reason to despise you and the Gospel message that you promote and represent.”  Now it makes a lot of good practical sense.  And this is clearly the main idea that Paul is declaring to Titus.  It’s all rooted in the need to be of “sound doctrine” (1:9; 2:1), as opposed to “corrupted” doctrine (1:15), which either makes the Gospel message to be “maligned” (2:5) or made “attractive” (2:10) with “speech that cannot be condemned” (2:8).
            It would be a very good idea to memorize verses 11-14.  It is a capsule of sound doctrine advice that can substantially program you and your performance to be free of any legitimate spite.  Let’s review it: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
            I have to say that I know something about being despised.  In fact we’re dealing with some of this phenomenon even as I speak (write). There are some who have no alternative but to despise those who are not in agreement with their own corrupted views.  So be it.  That’s OK.  Because “the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth—a faith resting on the hope of eternal life” (1:1-2) sees beyond that stuff—and rises above it.  We must accept the fact that some conflicts and issues in our relationships that involve the human will of others simply cannot be fixed.  Don’t let that fact bring you down!
 
            “It is better to forgive too much than to condemn too much.”