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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20 May 11
I can’t say GOOD MORNING now…so GOOD AFTERNOON.
It’s already been a thick morning. Now I’m being called to lunch. I think we’ll be eating again on the deck beside the creek. If so, this will be the 3rd day in a row. We’re finally seeing some very nice weather.
Wish you could join us. Blessings on the rest of your day.
Love, Dad/Ray
20 May 2011
Psalm 19
Focus: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1.
So—do you hear His declaration? Is your antenna picking up His proclamation? Reception really is vital. David goes on to affirm, “Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (vv. 2-4). In harmony with this profound and glaring message, Paul declares, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
I will express David’s implied thesis this way: If God so gloriously reveals Himself in His creation, it follows that He would also perfectly and more adequately reveal Himself in His Word. Perhaps I will simply capture the key words for how David extols God’s Word verses 7 through 11. Some I will modify with the essential meaning to fit the list. So God’s Word…
IS PERFECT (without error)
IS REVIVING (life-giving)
IS TRUSTWORTHY (reliable)
MAKES WISE (builds character)
IS RIGHT (truth)
OFFERS ENJOYMENT (delight)
IS RADIANT (splendid)
RENDERS ENLIGHTENMENT (expels darkness and ignorance)
IS PURE (cleansing)
IS ENDURING (eternal)
IS ABSOLUTE (essential, complete)
IS RIGHTEOUS (free of contamination)
IS PRECIOUS (valuable above all physical wealth)
IS SWEET (tastes wonderfully good to consumers)
WARNS (guides, guards)
RESULTS IN GREAT REWARD (Heaven, eternal life)
If this list is a correct disclosure concerning the importance of God’s Word, we have another compelling reason why Jesus would affirm, “Man does not live (healthy) on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God?” (Matthew 4:4).
I hope you don’t get tired of hearing David’s concluding prayer in verse 14. I judge it to be absolutely essential: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” And my prayer for you is that you will NEVER stop praying this prayer.
“If you believe what you like in the Gospel and reject what you do not like, it is not the Gospel that you believe, but yourself.” - Augustine