Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
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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20 Jan 11
Greetings, special people.
We were actually scheduled to spend last night and tonight at a mountain cabin with some of our family as an after-Christmas family fling. But there was too much sickness in our ranks so the plan was postponed. The cabin owner was gracious enough to allow us to reschedule. We’re now shooting for next month.
I better get on with it. I’m sure you need to too. Let’s maintain the joy of the Lord—that’s our strength, you know.
Love, Dad/Ray
20 January 2011
Proverbs 20
Focus: “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1.
No—I have no inspiration to launch into a spiel on prohibition against anything alcoholic. In fact, I don’t think that is the main idea here. Being “led astray” is the main concern—following someone or something on a course that leads nowhere good when preferable GOOD PATHS could have been chosen instead—that’s the focus of this warning!
We all live in a virtual “mine field” of dangers and detrimental distractions. However, most of the “mines” around us are not all that hidden and obscure. They are pretty well marked for us by known facts and history. My imagination is churning up this idea: What if someone were to encounter a live mine in their path, marked by a big sign that says, “DANGEROUS MINE HERE” with an arrow pointing to the spot? What if next to the spot was a blown up dead body with another sign on a stake pounded into the chest of the corpse that said, “THIS DUMMY DIDN’T HEED THIS SIGN?” Would it not be rather stupid to carry on and walk over the spot? Duh! Wisdom doesn’t live that way. Stupid does.
Being “led astray” can certainly result from a lot more than the excessive intake of booze. Food, sports, sex, movies, work, etc.—lots of things that are not necessarily bad in themselves, with balance and boundaries, can too easily become intoxicating, mind-altering, addictive, and destructive of one’s purpose and potential.
Paul addressed this matter in 1 Corinthians 6:12. “’Everything is permissible for me’ (This was apparently a common quip in his society)—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered (“led astray”) by anything.” That impresses me as a WISE approach.
“A drunkard commits suicide on the installment plan.”