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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15 Dec 10
            Good morning, dear people.
            Oops! Yesterday I said I’d be sending a photo…then with some distractions going on around me I failed to do so.  So here it is.
            Some of you are aware of the tornado that hit our area yesterday.  It did some serious damage in Aumsville.  It seems rather ironic that our society gets so caught up and prepared for a local weather warning, but do not give much heed to the inevitable economic, political, and international storm that is so clearly in the making.  And notice that the numberless throng in today’s reading are not those who have come out of a great revival, or a great Sunday School Picnic—but out of great tribulation.  Keep looking up with your seatbelt fastened.
            Continue loving Jesus.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
15 December 2010
Passage: Revelation 7
Focus: “Salvation belongs to our God…” Revelation 7:10.
            I was physically born March 27, 1944.  I was there—but I had absolutely nothing to do with it insofar as planning the event and making it a happen.  So how can I claim ownership for my existence?—insisting that this is MY life, MY plan, and MY stuff, etc?  It’s really quite humbling.  I think it’s supposed to be.  Even my own parents cannot claim ownership in the technical sense—as though they put together a specific plan and ordered all the specific parts to fabricate a specific and unique Raymond.  They were more into themselves—and bingo!—there I was.  I wonder if they were humbled too—as much as I am as a father—to behold the marvel of the whole gamut of human procreation.  The point is that none of us can claim technical ownership or credit for any of it!
            What is true of my physical birth and existence is also true of my spiritual birth and existence—commonly called SALVATION, and commonly given the possessive pronouns of MY, or OUR, or THEIR.  But none of us can claim absolute ownership or credit for any of it.  Even the exercise of our ability to choose is from Him.  All we can do is own the choices.
            In today’s reading we are presented with a numberless multitude around the Throne—those who have been SAVED and have remained faithful during the great tribulation period.  Their song is significant.  Notice that it is not a song that praises God for THEIR SALVATION, as though it was a product that they owned, but they sang, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
            If you and I can think clearly and carefully and ascribe credit where credit is due, singing and praise to the Almighty has to be compulsive.  We cannot NOT praise!
 
“Life’s greatest tragedy is to lose God—and not miss Him.” -  F. W. Norwood