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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29 Dec 11
Greetings, dear ones.
I haven’t made it outside yet. I’d like to see if there is any damage from the huge burst of wind I heard after getting into bed last night about 9:45pm. It felt like it was trying to blow the house away.
Hard to believe we are nearing the end of 2011…and the 44th year of Becki living with me. I’m glad to report that she wants to keep it up. So do I.
Blessings on your day.
Love, Dad/Ray
29 December 2011
Proverbs 29
Focus: “An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.” Proverbs 29:6.
What do you know about snares? If my understanding is correct, a snare is some kind of looped line, usually wire, that is tactfully placed by the hunter (the snarer) so that when an unsuspecting animal (the snaree) happens by and steps into the snare so as to cause the loop to tighten around a foot or leg. Tension on the line makes the line tighter. So if the snare is tied off securely and the animal offers normal resistance to the line, he is now trapped, caught, bound, no longer free. And fighting the line only makes the snare more secure. A form of snare is a rope lasso used by a cowboy. How easily can one be removed from the neck of a horse or steer if the beast is allowed to keep pulling and fighting the line?
“An evil man…” Who is that? If sin is the default setting of the natural human heart, and if sin is evil, I suppose it could be any or all of us. This SIN default setting causes one to do SINS. “…snared by his own sin.” This dismal chain of CAUSE (SIN) and EFFCT (SINS) works like a snare—the more one fights in his own strength against the bondage, the more bound one becomes. If we maintain a Biblical worldview that recognizes only TWO kingdoms at large, we don’t need to wonder WHO is behind the scene doing the snaring. Be reminded, you are being stocked (1 Peter 5:8).
“…but a righteous one…” Here again is the Biblical Gospel. No one has to be bound to bondage! Through the grace of God and the saving power of Christ’s atonement, snares can be removed, chains broken, captives set free, evil purged, and righteousness (His righteousness) restored.
“…can sing and be glad…” How can this blessed reality NOT give cause for singing?!?!
Please sing with me—
Stanza 3: “HE BROUGHT ME OUT.”
“He gave me a song, ‘twas a new song of praise,
By day and by night its sweet notes I will raise;
My heart’s overflowing, I’m happy and free,
I’ll praise my Redeemer, Who has rescued me.
Chorus:
He brought me out of the miry clay (something like a snare),
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, Halelujah!”
“A wise man learns by the experience of others.
An ordinary man learns by his own experience.
A fool learns by nobody’s experience.”