Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
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 has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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4 Feb 11
Greetings, dear folk.
Well, here we are…up at 3:30am, I’ve done my jog, lined out the sawmill crew, had breakfast, and now I’m launching this little composition that Becki has edited and approved. So if you don’t like it, you can also blame her. Now I need to get showered and line out my own work for the day…which will include taking over the milling operation at 10am when Thano has to go to work at Safeway.
I think I may be some kind of freak in telling you all this stuff. How come nobody ever tells me about their day?
I’m listening.
Love, Dad/Ray
4 February 2011
Proverbs 4
Focus: “Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you.” Proverbs 4:6.
Notice that the author of this advice is a father addressing his son. Notice that wisdom is given the gender classification of a female—“she” and “her.” Notice also that the relationship this father recommends that the son establish with wisdom is like that of a wife or spouse. Listen to verse 8: “Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” Doesn’t that bespeak marriage-like intimacy and relationship? (Read also verses 13-18 of the previous chapter.) So the strong implication that I see in what the father is really saying, in other words, is, “Boy, I urge you to get yourself married to Ms. Wisdom. I know something about her. If you love her and remain faithful to her, she will do the same to you and bless you beyond what you can even imagine!”
The core essential to any lasting and mutually-edifying marriage relationship is, of course, LOVE. “Agape” love. Commitment love. So how is it with you? Can you say that you truly LOVE wisdom? Do you promise to have and to hold her, to be faithful to her, to honor and to cherish her, as long as you both shall live?
Well—I choose to say, “I DO”—even though I may not flawlessly keep the contract.
“The most important thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”