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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11 Jan 11
Greetings, special ones.
I actually had this composed about 12 hours ago. But lots of activity and interference impaired my intentions. Interference is with me now too. Little Kaden was just found in the kitchen with his pants down, peeing in the dog’s water dish. Fun! Becki and Thano were dealing with an emergency explosion by little Nicholas. Double fun! I’ll stick on a photo showing some of the commotion-makers.
I actually took off for awhile yesterday and had a little selfish fun. The mill job I had scheduled was postponed. Since it was cold and clear, I decided to lay aside all my other work and spend a few hours on the mountain. Maybe I’ll stick in a photo I took when I stopped for a moment and took a picture back up the hill behind me. Do you see the track I made?
The mill job was postponed again today. It’s a much bigger job than I expected.
Have a good night. Blessings.
Dad/Ray
11 January 2011
Proverbs 11
Focus: “The LORD abhors dishonest scales…” Proverbs 11:1.
Isn’t it true that when a person engages in any form of dishonesty, they are, in fact, demonstrating a defective personal theology? They are either ignorant of the God of the Bible and what He says, and simply live according to the default settings of their sin nature, or they do not like or believe what He says, resisting the whole idea of being accountable to Him. I mean, how could a person who knows and believes Biblical revelation allow themselves to do anything they know is in conflict with that revelation? How could a person willfully do dishonesty when they know the One to Whom they are ultimately accountable actually sees and knows and records that dishonesty?
Here’s another question: Why does God hate what He knows we are? After all, sinners are what we are. Here’s where His AMAZING GRACE becomes really amazing! Wow! Read again John 3:16-21, Romans 5:8 and 6:23 (This list could be a mile long.). That AMAZING GRACE allows one to be transformed from being a sinner into being one pleasing to Him and productive of His will. And be assured that His AMAZING GRACE is not just a New Testament theme. It runs through the entire Bible. Consider Numbers 14:18: “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” But the next sentence begins with a BUT—and it’s a BIG BUT. “But (Actually in the NIV, it is “Yet.”) he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
Verses 1 and 20 of chapter 11 strike me as being closely related. Verse 1: “The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.” Verse 20: “The LORD detests men of perverse heart, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.” Please note the connection between a clean heart and a blessed life—which make for clean dealings and blessed business. Please note what angers God as well as what He delights in.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (and your default sin nature), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (By His AMAZING GRACE through His Word). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.” - Thomas Jefferson