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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6 Nov 10
            Good morning, dear people.
            Lots to squeeze into the next 12 hours.  I’d better get on with the squeezing.
            Blessings on your day.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
6 November 2010
Passage: John 7:1-24
Focus: “Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  John 7:4.
            I quite agree with the reasoning of Jesus’ brothers—even though their words were tainted with sarcasm at the time.  If Jesus is truly Who He says He is, and as powerful and important as He claims to be, by all means, He should be presented to the world.  Why should the masses be deprived of His blessings and benefits?  He should not be kept in some obscure corner, out of view.  Jesus’ response to the antagonism of His brothers was that the timing was not quite right.  His presentation to the world would come later.  Of course, He also knew something about the intentions of the Jewish leaders about which His brothers had not a clue.
            As we examine the challenge of Jesus’ brothers—“Show yourself to the world”—we have to conclude, HE HAS!  HE IS! What’s more, it’s important to remember that you and I are parts of His presentation plan!  So here’s the bigger-than-$64,000-question: WHAT KIND OF A JESUS CHRIST ARE YOU PRESENTING?
            QUICK REVIEW: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).
            “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
 
“The birth of Christ brought God to man,
but it took the cross of Christ to bring man to God.”