Insightful Musings on the New Testamentby
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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18 Dec 10
Greetings, dear people.
Whereas more than family are recipients of these little compositions, perhaps I will take a moment here to disclose a difficult and painful fact that we are presently having to deal with—the breakdown of Thano’s marriage. So, he is now residing in the Park Model mini home next to our place. We have our baby back again! Two little boys are caught in this ordeal. And right now we have little Kaden, age 2.5, with us for the weekend according to an assigned parenting schedule. Little Nicholas, age 4 months, has only been seen once. Since Thano had to work from 1:30pm till 8:45pm yesterday, and we picked up Kaden at 4pm, we as grandparents had the default challenge to look after him. I decided to take him with me in the truck last night to go up to the snow—not sure how it would go—if we would even make it that far. We did made it up to Ski Bowl and I actually took him twice up the chair in my lap and did two runs down the hill, holding him in my arms. He had a blast…but got pretty chilled, which cut our time short. Whew! The adventure goes on.
Without you disclosing all the details of your life, I’m sure you face issues of your own. What would we do without that STRONG TOWER?! PTL!
Have a great day…as you continue to give Him the benefit of the doubt in regards to all your struggles and unanswered questions.
Love, Dad/Ray
18 December 2010
Passage: Revelation 10
Focus: “…the mystery of God will be accomplished…” Revelation 10:7.
The theme that captivates my attention in this short reading is not a new one. It’s a theme that surfaces time and time again throughout the pages of scripture. One little word in verse 7 states that theme—“WILL.” It is part of an emphatic unequivocal promise that God’s plans and purposes WILL be fulfilled. PERIOD! “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” So my puny plans, wishes, complaints, comforts, or disbeliefs are absolutely ineffective to alter that fact. His will WILL be done in earth as it is in heaven!
It is implied here that more horrendous stuff is coming—beyond what John was allowed to record. It may be beyond what we can imagine. And I think this little piece of instruction John is given (“Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” V.4) gives support to the idea that GOD’S WORD IS INSPIRED NOT JUST FOR WHAT IT SAYS, BUT FOR WHAT IT DOES NOT SAY.
Allow me to snatch a piece of calming inspiration from my reading today in Proverbs 18, verse 10. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” So while the fulfillment of His plans and purposes may indeed be incredibly awful to behold, not to mention, experience, I am safe in Him. PERIOD!
“To whom you give your confidence, to him you resign your liberty.”