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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4 Nov 10
            Greetings, special people.
            I rose about 3:15am this morning.  I’ve already done a bit of sign work.  There is a lot more detail work to do before daylight when I need to get out and saw up more cedar.
            Have great day…and many more…till the last day.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
4 November 2010
Passage: John 6:25-59
Focus: “…I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:40.
            Between verses 39 and 54 this statement is made by Jesus 4 times—“I will raise him up at the last day.”  It has to be important for Him to repeat it so many times.  But what does it really mean?  Without getting too technical, let’s raise a few basic questions.
            What is meant by being raised?  Taking it all into account, it first involves a natural death (something everyone does, you know), then being supernaturally resurrected at an appointed “last day” with a new form of life that will never end.
            Who will be raised?  They are those whom the Father has given Jesus (v.39), those who look to Jesus and believe in Him (v.40), and those who eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood (v.54).  These descriptions are fairly easy to understand—except the last one.  Concerning that, I have concluded that Jesus is speaking symbolically of those who appropriate to themselves the saving influence of His broken body and shed blood.  That, of course, is the intended meaning contained in the Holy Communion ceremony observed in most Christian churches.  I believe it also means seeking and receiving Jesus’ Life as imparted through God’s Word, about which Jesus states, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
            What is the meaning of believing in Him?  It simply involves truly and decisively believing that Jesus Christ is one’s only hope for escaping the consequences of sin, and believing that enough to obey Him and His Word.
            When is the last day?  Well, sorry, the Scriptures do not allow knowing specific times and dates.  All we need to know is that there will be a last day—that God will bring to termination this dispensation of time and unite those He raises with eternal life.
            I know this kind of thing is not on the ballots now being counted—but I certainly want to vote for this hope.  All the alternatives hold no appeal.  It still remains—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
 
“Where there is no faith in the future
there is no power in the present.”