Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, on this wet windy morning.

But it’s not as wet and windy as it was at times yesterday. I don’t know how those trees hold up to the kind of wind stress that I beheld out this window a few times. And while walking in it, I felt like I was going to be blown away.

Speaking of wind, I think it is a great point make that I never once saw the wind—I only saw and felt its effects. Hmmm…read John 3:8 again. We can’t deny that there is an essential mystical element to our faith. And speaking on this level, here’s a question I’m pondering of late: Since science does not really understand gravity, is it possible that we are actually surrounded by and held in place by the very mystical Spirit/Power of God?...without knowing it?...living with such familiarity with its effects on physical reality that it simply never occurs to our ignorance how absolutely dependent we really are on the Sovereign grace of God? What a rabbit trail! I’m just wondering out loud.

I actually did a little jog this morning with Nicholas on my shoulders. That contributed to my gravitational pull. We had a good time. I’m sure passersby are amused.

I’m also sensing a kind of gravitational pull to my pile of work.

Be good and be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

In the course of my meeting and talking with a broad range of people, there is a statement I make quite regularly: “You need religion about like you need another hole in your head…but you do need relationship with your Manufacturer.” I don’t know if that resonates with you like it does with me. I think it becomes particularly meaningful when we offer the definitions I intend for the key words. (1) Religion: Man-made. The attempt of a sinful man to reach a Holy God. (2) Relationship: God-made. The gracious demonstration of a Holy and Loving God to reach out to a sinful man, allowing access and fellowship—relationship.

In the passage before us, we have a couple more examples of the ugly and destitute nature of religion without relationship. Jesus is caught red-handed by the religious legalists—so they thought. They were all over Jesus for allowing (by not getting upset) His disciples to eat some kernels of grain while walking through a field on the Sabbath—a serious violation of their religious laws. I guess they judged that as work by harvesting. Good grief! Here they are hassling the Maker and Lord of the Sabbath (v. 5)!—condemning Him for violating the Sabbath! On another occasion, Jesus had the audacity to release the miracle power of God to heal a man on the Sabbath. Oh, how terrible! Their ugly cold hearts are indicated when it says, “The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking of a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath” (v. 7). It wasn’t a matter of “could he?” but “would he?” Sure enough He did. Did they then praise God for this wonderful miraculous gift of healing granted to this needy man? Not a chance. Religion doesn’t behave that way. Instead the text reads, “But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus” (v. 11). Nice people. Very religious. Doesn’t their behavior make you want to be just like them?! Hardly.

In our pursuit to extract personal and practical edification from the Scriptures, it’s appropriate to wrap up these thoughts with a personal and practical question: Between the two options, religion or relationship, which do YOU choose? It is a choice, you know.