2007 picture of Ray SparreInsightful Musings on the New Testament
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 is following, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010.

Daily Reading Guide  |  2010 Devotion Archives  |
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 29 May 10
   
Dear ones.
    I was hoping to see a little sunshine this morning.  It's not here yet at 8:21am.  It's kind of late...but I'm still going to go out for a jog.  And I now have my Total Gym repaired (a friend made up a new set of rollers with his lathe) so I can add that again to my little exercise routine.  I don't ever expect to look like Chuck Norris...it's just an attempt to do something rather than nothing.  I think it helps.
    We actually had dinner out in Molalla last night at a Chinese restaurant that has fairly new owners.  When I paid, I asked, "Where did you live before you came to Molalla?"  He said, "Poland."  I said, "Poland!  Wow!  Did you learn the language there?"  Then he articulated more carefully and said, "No, Portland."  They also serve good "flied lice."
    Have a great day.
        Love, Dad/Ray
 
29 May 2010
Passage: Luke 8:40-56
Focus: “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  God in peace.”  Luke 8:48.
           
The question that arose in my little head at this point in my reading this time was, “Why did Jesus call this woman ‘daughter?’”  After all, she could have been a good deal older than Jesus in the flesh.  I wonder if the best answer is that she was definitely not older than Jesus in relation to His eternal existence as GOD.  And if that fact is truly a part of this equation, it is very likely that there was something going on here that was much bigger and more important than merely a deliverance from a physical infirmity.  Think about it.  Read John 1:12 again.
            Even our reading of yesterday contains some key dots that, when connected, confirm Jesus’ Deity—that He was GOD IN FLESH.  Remember Jesus calming the storm?  It says of the disciples, “In fear and amazement, they asked one another, ‘Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:25).  Who but GOD can do that?
            Then consider again the incident of Jesus delivering the demon-possessed man.  Pay particular attention to what Jesus tells the man after his deliverance: “Return home and tell how much GOD has done for you” (Luke 8:39).  The man could have said, “I don’t see God here, but I see you, Jesus.”  And Jesus could have said, “Bingo!  You’re connecting important dots and getting the picture!”  The rest of the verse actually goes on to say, “So the man went away and told all over town how much JESUS had done for him.”  Hey, just a minute, Jesus told him to tell what GOD had done for him, but he tells what JESUS had done.  Is that a discrepancy?  No.  I think it’s beautiful and wonderful harmony.
            Notice too that when Jesus speaks to Jairus’ dead daughter (Who else can speak to dead people and make them live?), He says, “My child, get up!” (Luke 8:54).  Doesn’t addressing her as “My child” sound a lot like “daughter?”  Think about it.  Keep connecting those dots!
 
            “The Son of God became the Son of Man that He might change the sons of men into sons of God.”