Insightful 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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25 July 10
                Greetings, dear ones.
                It’s been a few days since my last message.  I’m 4 days behind now. Oh, well…  We had a good time, both with Louis and Ilene on Orcas Island, and at our NC College reunion at Sedro Wooley.  We just rolled in late last night…and dropped into bed about 12:20am this morning.  I think I’m not yet done sleeping.  Now…to get re-oriented to life in the real world…
                May the Lord inspire and bless you and yours.
                                Love, Dad/Ray
 
25 July 2010
Passage: 1 Corinthians 16
Focus: “…because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”  1 Corinthians 16:9.
                Doesn’t it sound like a contradiction—to have a great opportunity along with great opposition?  I mean, how can a situation be one of effective ministry opportunity if it is going to be simultaneously hammered by serious conflict?  But that is exactly how it works out in the course of any effective ministry where real eternal needs are being addressed. Remember—there are only two kingdoms.  And when anyone truly teams up with the Kingdom of God, that person and their influence actually become a threat and enemy to the kingdom of Satan, and conflict always results. Get used to it.  That’s how it is.  Paul knew that.  So he wasn’t intimidated at all by the opposition.  He knew that the eternal issues over which the battle raged were far too big and important to allow discouragement and retreat.  Here’s an example of Paul’s perspective as stated in Romans 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
                Make no mistake about it—we too are surrounded by ministry opportunities.  For where there are people, there are urgent eternal needs.  The battle is not over places, stuff, plants, or animals, but over ownership and control of the eternal souls and destinies of men.
                As we face the battle and engage in the ministry opportunities around us, please absorb as fully as possible the last verse of chapter 15: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
 
                “God has only one Son—and He was a missionary.”