Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear special people.

There is some snow on the ground here. It probably won’t stay long as it’s staying above the freezing point. I’ll take on a jog after I send this.

I’m alone at present. Becki left last evening right after the little boys left. She is attending and helping out at an annual conference with the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon. She’ll be gone till Saturday night.

I face some variables in my day...not real sure what form it will take. It is no overstatement to say that every day is an adventure.

May your day be blessed. Love, Dad/Ray

Much like a computer, the memory can only recall that which has been previously loaded into it. Normal human bodies have been equipped by the Creator (certainly not by random chance) with five sensory mechanisms that constantly feed data into the memory. Thus you can’t remember an experience you’ve never had, or a concept you’ve never learned. You can’t remember a book you’ve never read, or a movie you’ve never seen. You can’t remember what a guava tastes like if you’ve never eaten one. You can’t remember what bagpipes look or sound like if you’ve never seen or heard one. You can’t remember how to ski if you’ve never skied. You can’t remember what it’s like to jump out of a plane if you’ve never done so. And so on we could go. Just don’t let this simple fact get by you: You can’t remember “what the Lord had said” if you’ve never heard or read what He said.

I hope you will agree that we have made here a pretty strong case for the importance and benefits of reading God’s Word—The Bible. I also hope you will agree that the general idea of faith in God is a pretty important personal possession. Let’s make sure we connect some simple dots. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Where does this vital faith come from? Romans 10:17 affirms that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Reading, hearing, and even writing down ideas and lessons gleaned from the Word causes our minds to function like a reservoir of Kingdom material with which to build a godly life. Once deposited, the Holy Spirit can call to our remembrance what is needed. That’s essentially what Jesus said in John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

So Peter’s testimony in this passage was more than an account of his experience surrounding Cornelius and family. It was a testimony to the practical work and influence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a sincere follower of Christ.

Listen again to the testimony of the Psalmist: “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might [remember it and be guided by it, and] not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. (Bracketed insert is mine.)