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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18 Sept 10
Good morning, dear ones.
We have another memorial service to attend today…another fine man of
God…promoted to Glory. We became close to Arlan Berglund in 1967
when we first came to Oregon…and rented a little house from him right
after Becki and I were married. When I visited him a few times in
the assisted living home where he resided for that last several years,
it was typical to find him in his room with his Bible in his lap…still
pursuing God…into his late 90s. Another role-model.
Hey, some sunshine is appearing through the trees. Earlier I was
hearing rain on the roof. I think I’ll go out for a jog after
sending this and see what it’s really like out there.
Be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
18 September 2010
Passage: Philippians 3:12-4:3
Focus: “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12.
If
I could reduce Paul’s main concern for his readers to one basic
message, I think it would be something like this: THE VICTOIOUS
CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT A LEISURELY, CASUAL, RELAXING, “WHATEVER,”
“WALK-IN-THE-PARK” COURSE—BUT ONE OF LOVING GOD, COMMITMENT, DILIGENCE,
FOCUS, GROWTH (development), AND SELF-DISCIPLINE (thus
“discipleship”)—AND NOT JUST SOME OF THE TIME, BUT ALL OF THE
TIME! Quite honestly, I can’t seem to come up with any healthy
reason for taking exception with this view. In fact, as I attempt
to regard Paul’s example as one that is worthy of following, I see this
approach to life and faith paying valuable dividends for me
personally—as well as in the lives of others who are like-minded.
This seems reminiscent of the comparison Jesus spoke of regarding the
broad and easy way that leads to destruction, versus the narrow
disciplined way that leads to LIFE (Matthew 7:13-14). Be reminded
again that it all boils down to a matter of CHOICE.
Let me quote verse 12: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or
have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for
which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” You’ll notice that I
underlined the last phrase. I think it’s worth raising the
question as to why “Christ Jesus took hold of me?” Without any
doubt, God has gone to great lengths and vested big-time in my
salvation. The CROSS proves that! But why? Does He love me
because I’m so loveable? No. Because I am of such sterling
character? Certainly not. The best answer I can come up with is
that He loves me NOT for what I am, but for what I may become IN
CHRIST—for the potential I hold in embracing the above-mentioned
approach to living—I’ll say it again—a life of LOVING GOD, COMMITMENT,
DILIGENCE, FOCUS, GROWTH (development), AND SELF-DISCIPLINE (thus
“discipleship”)—AND NOT JUST SOME OF THE TIME, BUT ALL OF THE TIME!
Let me follow through by quoting verses 13 through 15: “Brothers, I do
not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us should take such a view of
things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God
will make clear to you.”
“Nothing worth keeping is lost in loving and serving God.”