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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19 Dec 10
Good evening, special people.
It’s been a full day…so full that I was not able to get this finished up and sent off this morning. But I did manage to do an exercise walk with little Kaden on my shoulders…before heading to our first commitment…a Gospel Sing in Woodburn.
Only 6 days till Christmas! This is a good time to stay close to the Prince of Peace so we don’t succumb to the stress that can so easily surround His advent celebration.
Good night.
Love, Dad/Ray
19 December 2010
Passage: Revelation 11
Focus: “Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them.” Revelation 11:7.
Have you noticed in the scriptural record that people who have been specially chosen and used mightily by God seldom face a comfortable life and a natural death? Take, for example, the person Jesus declared to be the greatest man who ever lived—John the Baptist. Of him Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Yet he got his head chopped off! What a wonderful outcome for a wonderful guy!
Our reading presents two special “witnesses” who are predicted to emerge in the middle of the tribulation period with a mighty ministry—specially empowered to communicate the Gospel and perform supernatural signs and wonders. But then they finally meet a violent death!—being attacked by the antichrist who is specially empowered by Satan. The witnesses are soon resurrected to life and then given a public rapture (as compared with a secret one)—but they still had to die a violent death.
May I remind you of how very BIG and transcending (eternal) are God’s plans and purposes over those of natural mortal men? May I remind you that you also have been called and chosen to be a communicator of the Gospel of Christ and a representative of the Kingdom of God? May I remind you that the same diabolical power that governed Herod (who beheaded John the Baptist) and empowers the antichrist is also against you—meaning, you could be severely persecuted and even die as a direct result of your faith in Christ and His saving grace? Are you scared yet? You shouldn’t be. May I remind you that when you seek first the Kingdom of God and choose to follow Christ, you, like those two witnesses, become invincible and indestructible until your assignment is complete? Paul’s exclamation is worth repeating: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). So, death? Hey! Get it straight! It’s no big deal! Besides, it’s going to happen one way or another anyway. Be reminded of Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). Our Biblical faith affirms that death for the believer, by whatever means, is simply the unavoidable passageway to eternal joy.
“No man should be afraid to die, who hath understood what it is to live.” -- Thomas Fuller