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 Sept 11
Greetings on a beautiful morning, dear ones.
I can hear some of our 7 guests moving about now. It’s going to be another adventure day. Becki will be picking up two grandkids in a few minutes to add to the mix. Can we say circus? We may attempt to lay aside some of our work stuff and join our guests with some recreational and amusement stuff. We’ll see.
May your day go as it should. Blessings.
Love, Dad/Ray
20 September 2011
Psalm 119:169-176 (“Taw”)
Focus: “May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” Psalm 119:173.
This is the last section of Psalm 119. From an earlier reading, I made a kind of 3-point outline in the margin of my Bible. Perhaps I will run it by you.
1. AUDIENCE. The writer is seeking an AUDIENCE with the Lord. “May my cry come before you, O LORD…May my supplication come before you” (vv. 169-170). The wonderful promise of Biblical revelation is that God is attentive to the sincere and honest cry of the human heart. Let’s review Isaiah’s challenge: “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). Those who seek Him will find Him: those who don’t won’t.
2. ADORATION. Is there anyone more deserving of praise, worship, and adoration than the One Who made and sustains all things? It is definitely a Biblical principle of success and fulfillment to live passionately in this relationship with our Creator. “May my lips overflow with praise…May my tongue sing of your word…” (vv. 171-172). We all run the risk of misusing our lips and tongues if they are not (seldom or never) engaged in this way.
3. ACTION. I have become convinced that our lives are far more products of our choices than they are of our circumstances. The writer affirms, “I have chosen your precepts.” There is almost nothing robotic about victorious living. It is very decisive and intentional. And choosing to love God and His Word is rewarded with a lot of support for doing so—even finding delight—as opposed to cold lifeless liturgical form. “I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law (Word) is my delight” (v. 174).
Sign me up!
“The simplest man fired with enthusiasm, is more persuasive than the most eloquent man without it.” - Franklin Field