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 has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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7 Jan 11
Good morning, dear people.
8:04am at present. I sure have a stack of objectives before me. If I focus on the size of the stack, emotional stress kicks in. At this late hour, I think I need to forego the jog and get to work. Among other things I need to rent a man lift and install a couple large sign panels on the sides of a building.
Becki now reports to me that our lives are completely altered for the next few days surrounding a couple grandkids. Lord, help us! The adventure still goes on. I like adventure…but this seems a little too close to too much of a good thing!
I don’t know WHAT is going on with you…but something is for sure. May your WHAT be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
7 January 2011
Proverbs 7
Focus: “My son…” Proverbs 7:1.
As I look back through the previous 6 chapters of Proverbs, I see that every section is marked by this plea—“My son” or “My sons.” (Check it out.) It’s an expression of deep love and concern from a father’s heart for his children (including daughters), knowing that their success in life and eternity is so critically delicate and vulnerable, knowing that their life choices flow from their own level of wisdom and knowledge (or the lack thereof) which determines their destiny. How can a clear-thinking father NOT be deeply concerned?!?! The fact is, this touches on a large measure of my personal motivation for composing these little devotional essays—an investment in posterity—an effort to contribute some encouragement to shaping a godly legacy.
Verse 7 says, “I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.” Let me raise this question: Is there such a thing as a youth who is NOT simple—who does NOT lack judgment? Doesn’t that go with the territory of youth?—where everyone grows and develops from infancy to adulthood?—from immaturity to maturity (or to adult immaturity)? Isn’t that why this father so emphasizes the importance of learning wisdom? It’s certainly not automatic. Even Jesus (as God in flesh) “grew in wisdom (psychologically, morally) and stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and men (socially)” (Luke 2:52).
If you are a youth, please accept this as guidance for shaping your life. If you are a parent, please accept this as guidance for shaping your legacy.
“It seldom occurs to teenagers that someday they will know as little as their parents.”