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 |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3 April 11
Good morning, dear people.
Looks like a decent day out there. I intend to venture out there soon and see…while I do a jog.
Happy birthday to grandson, Devyn…11 yesterday. How time flies…when you’re flying around consuming it. We’ll go over to their place in Dallas this evening for a little celebration.
Blessings. Love. Dad/Ray
3 April 2011
Proverbs 3
Focus: “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:11-12.
Can you imagine a kid who was never disciplined growing up to be a self-disciplined, well-balanced, successful person? Certainly not. God has clearly designed fathers and mothers to learn wisdom and maturity through discipline so that they can pass on wisdom and maturity through discipline to their children so that they can pass on wisdom and maturity through discipline to their children so that…and so on. It forms a positive chain of life. And speaking of chains, I’m reminded of that old quip that says NO CHAIN IS STRONGER THAN ITS WEAKEST LINK. Perhaps I’ll spin off of this idea and make up my own quip: NO LINK IS A CHAIN UNTO HIMSELF. So, please, don’t mess up your chain by resenting discipline that robs you of wisdom and maturity. You are an important link.
On the topic of discipline as administered by our Heavenly Father, let’s take time to review a passage in Hebrews 12. It’s interesting to note that the author quotes from this very passage before us in Proverbs 3. “’My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-13).
Make no mistake about it—YOU AND I ARE PLANTING A CROP RIGHT NOW EVEN AS WE SPEAK—AND THERE WILL BE A HARVEST! Let’s hear it for RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE!
“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.” - Anatole France