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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22 Jan 11
Good morning, dear people.
Big day ahead…and another tomorrow. I’ve taken on the challenge to orchestrate a mission focus at our little community church on Sunday, interviewing three veteran missionary couples, and contributing to the potluck lunch after by cooking the main course in stones…a modified Melanesian style. Should be interesting. One missionary couple coming up from Springfield (Oregon) will spend the night with us tonight.
Little Kaden is with us for the weekend. I’ll probably take him on my jog when we get some daylight.
Have a good and godly day in the Lord.
Love, Dad/Ray
22 January 2011
Proverbs 22
Focus: “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise…” Proverbs 22:17.
Verse 17 commences a section that is labeled in my Bible as “Sayings of the Wise.” I’ll quote verses 17 and 18: “Pay attention to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.”
It’s easy to collect a lot Biblical support for these ideas. If we can agree that the Bible represents a huge reservoir of wisdom, it only makes wise sense to give diligence to its content—irrigating the water of the Word over into the gardens of our own hearts. Paul’s encouragement to young Timothy is very appropriate: “Do your best (“study”—KJV, “give diligence”) to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). To be sure, if diligence is not given to that which is good, bad and shame are inevitable. The Psalmist says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)—but if I don’t, I will.
I sure wish my memory worked better. It would sure be nice if I could retain all the things I’ve learned and read with immediate recall so that I “have all of them ready on my lips.” But our abilities of recall are not as important as the fact that we all demonstrate the validity of this spiritual and psychological law: THAT WHICH FILLS THE HEART COMES OUT THE MOUTH. And, of course, it also directs behavior. “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Read Matthew 12:33-37).
Everyone is full of something. What are you full of? What do you want to be full of?
“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill…Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverance.” - Samuel Johnson