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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24 Oct 11
Good evening, dear special people.
What a beautiful fall day it was! And we were able to achieve some good work. Another round of adventure awaits us tomorrow as we seem to be more and more engaged in a building project at Camp Adams.
After I send this, I think I’ll just go out and shut up the pole barn, feed the animals, hit the shower, and head for the sack. Wish my energy level was higher—there’s sure a lot more to do. Oh well…
Good night. Love, Dad/Ray
24 October 2011
Job 3
Focus: “After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” Job 3:1.
In the last chapter Job’s wife had said, “Curse God, and die! (2:9). Job is not cursing God directly in this his first spiel—but he is doing so indirectly. By cursing the day of his birthing, as well as his very existence, he was actually cursing something that Sovereign God authored (Psalm 139). But I will be quick to give Job credit for this: I have never heard a more creative, elaborate, and poetic curse!
My own views on life, faith, and trouble are not cast in concrete. They have formed and are forming with time, experience, and refined understanding. I used to be far more narrow, dogmatic, and idealistic than I am now. Empathy and compassion seem to be gradually replacing condemnation and legalism. That sure doesn’t mean that I’ve got it all exactly right. But my heart goes out to Job. His depression is certainly understandable. And depressed he is! I don’t see one shred of hope or positive thought in this entire chapter as Job looks at his life through the keyhole of his present deplorable circumstances. He’s bummed for obvious reasons—he simply can’t figure out what in the world he did to deserve all this misery. All he knows is that, to the best of his ability, he has sought to live pleasing before his Maker. This is definitely not what he signed up for!
A few days ago Andy (my son) reported to me a point he heard while listening to R. C. Sproul who was commenting on a question that plagues a lot of people—WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? Dr. Sproul apparently said something like, “I can clear up that question in a hurry—THEY DON’T!” Based upon the sovereign oversight of a GOOD God, bad things don’t happen to GOOD people—at least not ultimately bad. The God of the Bible is big and powerful enough to transform bummers into blessings, either instantly or over time. Part of Sproul’s Biblical basis for such a thesis is Romans 8:28-29—“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.” This blessed benefit isn’t promised to everyone—only those who love God and respond to His call.
My New Testament reading for today is 2 Timothy 4. Paul too is locked into some unbecoming circumstances, being a prisoner in Rome for no worthy reason, he senses that his death is near. If Job could have heard Paul’s inspired statement of faith in verses 6 through 8, I think he could have been encouraged. “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it” - Helen Keller