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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26 Oct 10
            Greetings, dear people.
            I did not get off my production for yesterday.  We ran up to the South Washington Coast, Long Beach, and spent a couple nights with old friends at a fancy place—Charlie and Carla Peterson.  Had a great time. Just returned this afternoon about 3:30pm.
            We have other friends coming in tonight…still others coming this weekend. Lots of fun.
            Lots to do.  Be blessed and encouraged.
                        Love, Dad/Ray

26 October 2010
Passage: John 1:19-51
Focus: “’Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’”  John 1:39.
            All John said was, “Look, the Lamb of God”—while pointing to Jesus.  That seems to be all it took to prompt two of John’s disciples to follow Jesus on foot.  When Jesus was aware of their presence (implied), He turned and asked what they wanted.  They said they wanted to know where He was staying.  Jesus’ response was, “Come…and you will see.”  I suppose Jesus then led them to the house where He was staying.  But I believe His ultimate aim, as they would continue to follow Him, was to show them where He was intending to live.  Where is that?  In their hearts.  He knew that the salvation of men was actually to be determined on that basis—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  This is the essence of the New Testament.
            Seeing is believing.  But physical seeing is not sufficient.  Paul insists that we have heart eyes.  Listen again to his prayer in Ephesians 1:18-21: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”
            What Paul expresses in this prayer has a similarity to what Jesus said to Nathaniel in today’s reading: “You shall SEE heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). In so saying, Jesus was actually quoting from the vision (SEEING) experience of Jacob in Genesis 28:10-22.  (Check it out.)  And that, in other words, was the same as what Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes unto the Father except through me.”
            Don’t you agree that the main factor that separates a true follower of Christ from the typical unbelieving worldling all boils down to a matter of SEEING? God’s Word and His Spirit are revealing and provide a vision and view not experienced by the unbeliever.  It only stands to reason that one who mounts up with wings as an eagle (Isaiah 40:31-32) is going to SEE a much bigger picture than one who is merely meandering through the forest.
 
“The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment.  The growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.”