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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27 March 2011
Proverbs 27
Focus: “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” Proverbs 27:4.
Of course there is a positive side to JEALOUSY, but this proverb puts it in the negative camp—along with ENVY, COVETEOUSNESS, and BITTERNESS. They are all forms of a virus that infects the operating system of the soul and messes up the quality of all other relationships—creating tensions and rivalries where there really shouldn’t be any. But, so what else is new with old-fashioned built-in unregenerate NATURAL SIN NATURE? Make no mistake about it—THAT RIGHT THERE IS YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY—not someone else or something else.
I have to agree—while anger aimed at me is difficult to handle, at least it leaves little question as to the thinking and attitudes of the presenter—making it possible to deal with. And a temper-tantrum or a fit of rage, as discomfiting as that may be, can be dealt with as it’s such an obvious external stormy display of one’s internal weather conditions. But this secret stuff—hidden attitudes—cloaked in superficiality—that’s really tough to handle—and you never really know what’s going on or where you stand.
As a reinforcement and review of where we as transformed followers of Christ can and should be standing, let’s revisit the second half of Galatians 5. It helps to underscore the sharp contrast that exists between the NATURAL SIN NATURE with the NEW NATURE IN CHRIST. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Galatians 5:16-26).
“And oft, my jealousy shapes faults that are not.” - William Shakespeare