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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9 April 11
Greetings, dear fellow pilgrims.
I don’t use the term “pilgrims” because I think you look old enough to have come over on the Mayflower…but because none of us have ever before been exactly where we are now. In that sense we definitely have all been created equal. What an adventure!
Today is no exception. At 10:31am, some of it is already history. We have two little grandkids here again to help make the sojourn interesting. But I sure need to get some real work done.
May the Gracious Sovereign Lord bless this page in your diary…as you lean on Him.
Love, Dad/Ray
9 April 2011
Proverbs 9
Focus: “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.” Proverbs 9:7.
I’m not wishing to engage in name-calling or demeaning others as a ploy to make myself look good, but as I examine this Biblical classification of “WICKED” that appears often in Proverbs, and throughout the Scriptures, I’m thinking it may be valid to identify some categories within this syndrome to better understand it. I would reason that all members of the WICKED class are Biblical FOOLS. And perhaps FOOLS can be divided into two other groups—STUPID FOOLS who are just plain ignorant, blind, or dull. They may not be aggressive in their foolishness nor put forth fine-tuned arguments to defend it. They just carry on with stupid foolishness because that default mindset is what governs them—and they are surrounded with birds of the same feather. The person described as a SLUGGARD would be in this group. I’m thinking the other group could be called BRIGHT FOOLS. They are the highly intelligent, in-your-face-type WICKED ones who scrap and argue and debate and defend their foolish wickedness—identified here as MOCKERS.
I have another wonder: Is it possible that the big political battle we have raging at this moment in our own Government could be accounted for by the rapid increase of MOCKERS? Do we hear from that arena any MOCKERY of common sense and basic Biblical morality? Think about it.
Whatever the case may be, I think I’ve figured out why the WICKED do WICKED, why FOOLS do FOOLISHNESS, why SLUGGARDS do LAZY, and why MOCKERS MOCK. The core cause is contained in Proverbs 12:15: “The way of the fool seems right to him.” They simply use their own self-centered unregenerate thoughts, ideologies, preferences, feelings, and emotions to determine their course and behavior.
Consider a few other references in Proverbs: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (14:12). “A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise” (15:12). “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD” (16:2). “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD (…and those that represent Him.)” (19:3). “A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil” (19:28). “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly” (26: 16).
So—what else is new? Not much has changed. Man’s ancient heart disease and state of affairs was recorded way back in Genesis 6. “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). But, hey—there is a bright spot here in sharp contrast—“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). Why? Because he had a heart of WISDOM—a HEART AFTER GOD.
Please be a Noah!
“The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.” - Josh Billings