Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, dear people.
Happy birthday, Jill! Lots of memories. May your 40th year (I’m not intimidated by numbers) be the best ever!
I already did a jog with Max in light rain. Sure picked up a lot of beer and soft drink cans. That seems to be typical of a first and middle of the month cycle…perhaps close to paydays. I collect the cans and give them to a friend who cashes them in as a fund-raising project for BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade).
I need to get my morning feed, shower, get into to work clothes, and get to work. Lots on the list. When I was last in the house about 10 minutes ago, only Nicholas was up. I’ll launch this and see how things are faring from here. I haven’t yet heard any explosions.
Blessings on your own passage between this morning and tonight…and beyond.
Love, Dad/Ray
There is an implicit warning here that I think we should not overlook: IT IS POSSIBLE TO MISREPRESENT THE ONE WE CLAIM TO REPRESENT. The disciples were actually rebuking the people for something Jesus encouraged—He rebuked them for their wrong rebuking. When Jesus recognized the misrepresentation going on, Mark’s Gospel says it made Jesus mad. This is definitely worth remembering—the “gentle” Jesus can get mad. “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant” (Mark 10:14). Personally, I don’t think it’s very smart or safe for servants to make their Master mad. What do you think? How long would a person hold a job, for example, if they regularly made their boss mad? In this regard, Paul offers this sound practical advice—“Find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10…in fact I’ll recommend that you read all of Ephesians 5 again).
Is there another important lesson here? How about this one? IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LORD’S WORK (ACTIVITY) AND STILL BE OUT OF STEP WITH THE MAIN MEANING OF THE MESSAGE. Not only did the disciples misapply a premiere principle of the Kingdom as it relates to children (love, acceptance, respect, inclusion), notice that Jesus now tells them exactly what will soon happen surrounding His persecution, murder, and resurrection at Jerusalem, all in perfect fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The account says, “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about” (Luke 18:34). Hey—these were inner-circle DISCIPLES! Does that not ring another warning bell?
Notice too the implied lesson surrounding the blind beggar who saw clear enough to address Jesus as the Messiah—“Son of David” (vv. 38-39). It seems that THIS BLIND OUTSIDER SAW BETTER THAN SOME OF THE SEEING INSIDERS. Think about it.