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 |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
17 Feb 11
Hi.
Can’t talk much. Lots happening. Need to get to it. Be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
17 February 2011
Proverbs 17
Focus: “To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.” Proverbs 17:21.
I can’t imagine a parent who does not at least desire to be proud of his or her child. It seems to run deep in human DNA. In some cases, I’ve been around parents who are so bound by that desire that they emit parental pride in a child even when that child is a glaring fool!
Please understand that I am not engaging here in depreciation and negative name-calling. The descriptive word “FOOL” is used scores of times in this book of Proverbs. Using this book as the source, it really would be a very good project for anyone to work up a two-column chart with headings something like this: (1) QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A FOOL. (2) QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A WISE PERSON (WISDOM). It would offer a very clear Biblical perspective and standard for guidance. In medical terms, identifying symptoms toward diagnosis is essential for determining treatment and cure. Let’s face it, we are all afflicted with FOOL DISEASE!
Rather than get carried away with relating our FOCUS VERSE to the confines of human relationships, let’s give some thought to how it applies to our relationship with God. After all, He is presented in Scripture as our HEAVENLY FATHER. We should have no difficulty believing that God also desires to be pleased and proud of His children. Indeed, He has vested much toward that objective and has set forth His special “only begotten Son” as a standard for measurement. He also grieves when His children rebel or misuse their giftings.
Without any further commentary, I want to direct your attention to some awesome words in Romans 8, verses 28 through 30: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestinated to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
I can’t imagine how or why it would be a bad to personally ask these questions: “What kind of a son (or daughter) am I? And what standard do I use for my answer?”
“One way to curb delinquency is to take the parents off the streets at night.”