Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
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 Dec 11
            Greetings, dear ones.
            On this first day of December, the view out my window is ablaze with welcome sunlight…decorating the branches of the cedars.  Beautiful.
            Lots to do.  I need to get on with it.
                        Blessings on your day.
                                    Love, Dad/Ray.
 
1 December 2011
Job 41
Focus: “No one is fierce enough to rouse him.  Who then is able to stand against me?  Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.”  Job 41:10-11.
            The two imposing creatures the LORD describes in these two chapters are a puzzle for interpretation.  The best fit for the “behemoth” of chapter 40 is the hippopotamus.  The best fit for the “leviathan” of this chapter is the giant crocodile.  I’ve never tangled with either one, but I’ve heard stories.  And I’ve met and interviewed more than one person who has survived crocodile attacks in the Solomon Islands.  It’s certainly not the great strength of these people that allowed them to survive.  Most people don’t. Some of the poetic imagery given the leviathan would seem to fit a mythological dragon.  But specifically identifying these critters is not as important as the point being made—animal foes that are huge, strong, fierce, and unmanageable in relation to man are less than a fruit flies in relation to the Almighty.  The logical conclusions of these relationships must not be missed.  The LORD presents the bottom line argument something like this: If mortal men in their own strength are not able to overpower these powerful creatures, “Who then is able to stand against me?”
            There is reference in my New Testament reading in 1 John to the importance of overcoming another big bad evil critter—except that this one is unavoidable.  “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14b).  Young men?  I guess that doesn’t apply to me—since I’m not that any more!  But wait!  Maybe I am!  “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
            I have never liked that silly little ditty that I’ve heard sung in some Sunday School settings that says, “The devil is a sly old fox—I’ll catch him and I’ll put him in a box—I’ll lock him up and throw away the key—for all the tricks he’s played on me!”  That’s just more immature nonsense!  Please understand—we are not equal to taking on the devil single-handedly. And the one and only way to overcome him is to be stronger.  Strong? How?  “STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER” (Ephesians 6:10).  “JESUS LOVES ME” is a far superior children’s Sunday School song when it says, “I am weak, but He is strong.”
            In order to carry these ideas over to their simplest and most practical personal application, please allow me to impose upon you a little pop-quiz. It’s only 3 questions—and the answers only call for a simple YES or NO.  This little quiz can be of immense benefit for anyone in preparation for their final exam.


            I don’t have to tell you that the best answer to each question is NO. Just make sure that you lace those answers into your worldview project whose present draft is due today.  If so, you’ll do fine on the final.
 
“I don’t think we understand the importance of the present; there’s nothing more important than what you are doing now.” -  Harold Clurman