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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31 Dec 11
Happy New Year, dear people.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be sleeping when the clock strikes 12…marking the end of 2011. Can you believe it? Already!
Thano actually went to work this afternoon about 4pm…and won’t be back till next year. His shift runs till 1am. His two little ones are here with us. In order to escape the noise, I’m out in my pole barn sign studio/office that is still under construction. At least it’s enclosed now and heated. After I send this, I should get back to the house to help her.
Perhaps I’ll wait till tomorrow to decide which way I’m going to jump next in regards to these devotionals. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!
Have a good transition and beginning of a New Year. Blessings.
Love, Dad/Ray
31 December 2011
Proverbs 31
Focus: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel—not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” Proverbs 31:4-5.
No—I’m not going to get on an abstinence bandwagon. (In fact, I would have to predict that if there was an honest debate slated between those holding to abstinence and those holding to temperance where both were basing their arguments on Biblical authority, the abstinence guys would lose.) However, since I’ve brought it up, I’m inclined to believe that an abstinence bandwagon is far more appropriate in the face of dismal statistics than its opposite extreme—a booze promotion bandwagon. It’s obvious that a huge sector of human society clearly does not understand the deception attached to booze—and run with the notion that “I can handle it,” or “Just one more can’t hurt,” and carry on without proper restraint until they confirm that deception by becoming another member of the fraternity of alcoholics. To be sure, glaring evidence is that this condition is counter-productive to strong marriages, families, and communities. And speaking of the inherent deception involved, let’s recall a previous proverb—“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging (typically sets a stage for brawling): and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1, KJV).
There is something far more important here to remember than the danger of getting tangled up with mind-altering substances. It is the fact that we are all like kings and rulers over the territories of our own lives—for with life comes responsibility and accountability to the Sovereign King and Ruler of the universe. Here is another matter that seems to be extremely difficult for humans to get through their heads—even many who claim to be Bible believers—the fact that while we commonly refer, as I just did, to “our own lives,” or “my life” and “your life,” they are technically misnomers that only describe the small areas of management responsibility over which each of us has been placed. The Biblical fact is WE DON’T REALLY OWN ANYTHING!—THE SOVEREIGN MAKER OWNS IT ALL! I believe that the sooner we get this fundamental fact nailed down in our minds, the better off we will be. (Infinitely better!) Everything else can properly fit together on that basic foundation. (Review Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 2:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Lemuel’s mother goes on to say, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more” (vv. 6-7). In other words, let the dying and “losers” go ahead and anesthetize themselves and get drunk. Hmm—I suppose that’s kind of OK—but my Biblical view causes me to put forth a theory: MUCH OF “LOSER” MENTALITY AND ITS CORRESPONDING MISERY IS A RESULT OF BEING LOST—WHICH IS A NEGLECT OR REFUSAL TO SURRENDER OWNERSHIP TO THE REAL OWNER. That being said, now read (or quote) again Romans 12:1-2. What do you think?
“If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain.” - Charles B. Newcomb