Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special ones.
Oh, the memories! Today is Katherine’s birthday. And if you would like to catch a glimpse some of those memories, I’ve typed out my journal entry for that day in 1979 and will stick it on as an attachment.
Becki has just called me to the breakfast table…so I’ll sign off after we sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KATHERINE. Thank you. Did you hear that, Kath?
Blessings on your day. Love, Dad/Ray.
That’s what this confused world is really looking for—even if they wouldn’t state it in these terms—HOLINESS AND SINCERITY—clean and honest—faith that makes a difference—faith that is vindicated by a track record of performance that inspires confidence and credibility. The world is sick and tired of claims and testimonies of faith and holiness from lives that are unclean and insincere. So am I. So are you. And so is God.
It was about 1964 that I heard one of the most outstanding sermon messages of my lifetime. It was in the course of a morning chapel service while attending Northwest College in Kirkland, Washington. I don’t remember who the speaker was. But one reason it was so outstanding is that, after all these years, I still remember the basic points. Three of the points went something like this: (1) God does not exist for you, but you exist for God. (2) God does not labor to change your circumstances as much as He labors to change you. (3) God is not as concerned with your doing as He is with your being.
I’m sure you can recognize how these serve as vital core concepts in the formation of a Biblical worldview. They are definitely revolutionary to the mainstream of natural human thinking—adding further evidence that no one is going to accidentally be BORN OF THE SPIRIT (John 3) and transformed in their nature and life course (Romans 12:1-2).
Paul has just reviewed some of his hard times of suffering as a representative of Christ. And he reminds the Corinthian believers that they are in the same canoe with him. He gives them, through it all, the high role modeling of one who conducts himself “in the HOLINESS AND SINCERITY that are from God….not according to worldly wisdom.” That’s really the only posture of life and faith that is of any lasting value. It becomes a focus on quality of attitudes rather than on the quantity of actions. It prioritizes proper responses to circumstances rather than the comfort or discomfort of circumstances. It recognizes that what we are communicates a message that is much louder than what we do or say.