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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14 Sept 10
            Good morning, dear people.
            I’m already feeling a nap coming on.  For some reason my wake up time was 2am.  I lay there for an hour and finally rose at 3am.  No use just lying around wasting time.
            I have a challenging list ahead of me.  But I’ll also try to squeeze a little nap in after lunch.  We’ll see.
            May you be wise, encouraged, and blessed today. 
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
14 September 2010
Passage: Ephesians 6:10-24
Focus: “…an undying love.”  Ephesians 6:24.
            The illustration Paul gives in this reading of the Christian soldier, decked out with the armor of God, is one that is both well-known and profound.  It is a passage of thought and inspiration that is well worth our attention and review.  But I’m choosing, this time around, to give special focus to the last three words of this chapter.  Perhaps I will quote the whole verse to help establish its context.  “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with AN UNDYING LOVE.”
            Do you agree that loving God is our only option that yields benefits?  Do you agree that any love that is not nurtured and maintained will eventually grow cold and die?  I think I will not make a lot more comment. I’ll just list a few related scriptures that come to mind.  Suffice it to say that we are touching on the foundational motivation for the whole idea of this passage—without which there is no armor, no protective defense, and no effective offense in this universal battle for our souls. Just hang in there and love God with AN UNDYING LOVE.
            “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:36-40.
            “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24:12-13.
            “If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him.  Come, O Lord!” 1 Corinthians 16:22.
            “The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him.”  1 John 2:4-5.
            “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
 
            “Where love reigns, God reigns.”