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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24 Oct 10
            Morning, special people.
            Wow!  I need to hurry again!  I’ve done a jog, ate my breakfast while here at the computer…now need to jump in the shower and off to church.
            Blessings.  Love. Dad/Ray.
 
24 October 2010
Passage: 2 Timothy 4
Focus: “…be prepared…”  2 Timothy 4:2.
            This simple little phrase just about says it all.  “BE PREPARED.”  Think about it.  As I think about it, I have to make this deduction: All my background, all my training, all my experience, all my church activities, etc., don’t really amount to a “hill of beans” IF it does not result in my being PREPARED to serve God in the present—and PREPARED to meet Him at the inevitable termination of my physical life in the future. And whereas God has provided so thoroughly for my being PREPARED, I am without any excuse at being anything less.  Can you say, “Amen?”
            This passage between 2 Timothy 3:10 and 4:10 is labeled as “Paul’s Charge to Timothy” in my Bible.  It is such a tremendous section of Scripture containing encouragement and challenge toward being PREPARED that I have decided to present it here again from The Message translation.  Why not pretend that this is Paul’s charge to ____________ญญญญ____ (fill in your own name)?
            “You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.  And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.  Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith.  They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
            “But don’t let it faze you.  Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk!  There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.  Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
            “I can’t impress this on you too strongly.  God is looking over your shoulder.  Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead.  He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch.  Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit.  Just keep it simple.
            “You’re going to find there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.  They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.  But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’ servant.
            “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar.  This is the only race worth running.  I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.  All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause!  Depend on it, he’s an honest judge.  He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”
           
            “The proper time to do the proper thing is before you have to do it.”