Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good afternoon, dear people.
I just returned from the mural for the second time. I was there just after 8:am to assist with installing the painting that the artist did on roll up media. I returned home for lunch when that was done, then went back to finish applying the stain. Now I need to get more done on the roof. I’ll send a photo soon so you can see what it all looks like.
Becki is at her swim exercise session. I guess she’s leading the program this evening, as the main leader is away for a few weeks.
Not much left of the day…but I better make the best of it and keep chugging.
Blessings. Love, Dad/Ray
I’m sure you have noticed that whenever someone visits the clinic or hospital, one of the first things the tending nurses will do is check the pulse. The pulse rate is, of course, a measurement of how many times the heart beats in one minute as it pumps blood through the body. It is a very important indication of the health of the patient. If the pulse is too slow or too fast, it will give meaning to the doctor in diagnosing the condition along with prescription and treatment.
It did not take “Doctor Jesus” very long to notice an unhealthy spiritual and intellectual pulse in the two disciples that He met on the road to Emmaus that day. After listening to their brief description of their sick condition, Jesus exclaims to them, “How foolish you are, and how SLOW OF HEART to believe all the prophets have spoken!” And He began to administer the medicine of the Word.
Let me call to your attention to the fact that you and I are incapable of actually controlling the pulse of our physical hearts. It is an automatic physiological miracle that God has established in our living bodies. But we are given a large measure of responsibility over our psycho-spiritual pulse. Notice that Jesus pinpoints the main cause of their unhealthy condition. He says, in so many words, “You fellows have not been eating right, which allows your disappointments and anxieties to give you indigestion along with an unhealthy pulse.” What is the implied remedy for this very common ailment? KNOW GOD’S WORD AND BELIEVE IT. It will prevent us from developing this faith debilitating condition—SLOW OF HEART.