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.
| Sparre Home Page | Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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1 May 11
Good afternoon, dear people, on this beautiful Sunday.
It’s already been an interesting day…and continues to be. I was just saddled with a need to haul a big trailer load of lumber to a guy West of Portland later this afternoon…following our Gospel Sing thing at Pheasant Pointe here in Molalla. Hope it goes OK.
I hope I’m not surprising you too badly by shifting course over to the Psalms. May the Lord add His blessing. May He add it to your day as well.
Love, Dad/Ray
1 May 2011
Psalm 1
Focus: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” Psalm 1:1.
The Proverbs have been our focus over the last four months. Sure, we could continue to squeeze more juice out of them. But there is so much more lush and nutritional grazing to do in the pasturelands of God’s inexhaustible Word! I have decided to open the gate to the Psalms. I don’t know what all we will find there, but it will be good.
This first chapter of Psalms is a terrific little module of inspired literature. We could easily spend a month here. It is indeed a NUMBER ONE Psalm! It puts the important things of life and eternity together in clear concise terms, leaving very little room for “I don’t understand!”
I suppose I could be guilty of reading some of my own Biblical Worldview bias into this description, but I seem to have little alternative but to regard my God-given will—my freedom of choice—as the fundamental hinge on which my life and destiny turns. And this Psalm sets forth the two (Count ‘em—one, two—only TWO!) basic options that I face, that make up the two (Only TWO!) basic kinds of people on the planet, that affect the two (Only TWO!) basic eternal destinations possible—all influenced by the two (Only TWO!) spiritual kingdoms of the universe—the Kingdom of God that lends influence by means of TRUTH imparted by the Holy Spirit, and the Kingdom of Satan that lends influence by means of the LIE embedded in the DNA of man’s fallen SIN NATURE and reinforced by Satan’s refined spirit of DECPTION. Whew! That was a long sentence! If you don’t mind, please read it again. Did I say it right? How would you say it? This really is important, you know.
This Psalm has six verses, divided evenly between these two themes—the first three describing a person who CHOOSES first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (I think I’ve heard that phrase somewhere before!)—the second three describing the person who CHOOSES to reject the idea of God or who CHOOSES to be OK with his indifference to God. Notice the word combinations. In this NIV Bible it is “BLESSED” in verse one linked with “PROSPERS” in verse 3. Then “WICKED” in verse 4 is linked with “PERISH” in verse 6. Chosen dispositions correspond to their logical destinies. And don’t miss this: BOTH CHOSEN DISPOSITIONS ARE PROGRESSIVE. Each grows and escalates. Neither is static. Let me add support by looking back to where we have recently been in Proverbs: “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the first light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness (and gets darker), they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:18-19).
If we can get a grasp on what’s really going on here, that word “PERISH” should turn our blood cold! The urgency of the Biblical Gospel is both a glorious opportunity and a terrible warning: YOU DON’T HAVE TO PERISH!—BUT PERISH YOU WILL IF YOU DON’T GET A GRASP ON WHAT’S GOING ON HERE! “…whosoever believeth in Him should not PERISH, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Wow! I’m only getting started here, and already I’ve exceeded my preferred quota of words. Will you allow me to return to Psalm 1 tomorrow? Thank you.
“You only live once—but if you work it right, once is enough.” - Joe E. Lewis