Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

We did our little walk/jog routine. As we head out along our driveway lately, I’ve been picking up a little bunch of apples that have fallen from our summer apple tree. I carry them up to the top of the hill where a couple horses are in one of the pastures. They are learning to be happy to see us as I have all those apples to feed them. They enjoy the apples…and I enjoy their enjoyment.

This is the one weekend of the month when the little boys are here. They will be picked up later this afternoon. So, among many other things, one of the points on my list is to make more fruit popsicles. They’re a lot healthier than those store-bought ones. It’s a simple matter of making a fruit smoothie and pouring it into the moulds. You should try it. They’re good for big people too.

Blessings on your day…even though it may be the hottest day of the year.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Allow me to put forth what I believe to be a vital thesis: It is critically important to understand that BIBLICAL MIND CONTROL is foundational to successful BIBLICAL LIVING. If our minds are not controlled by the “law of the Spirit of life” in Christ, then, by default, it will be controlled by “the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

It occurs to me that we have just given ourselves a clear explanation for why the Christian faith is so often given a bad name (“bad press”). It’s because so many claim Christian affiliation without being affiliated with Christ personally—without being transformed in their minds by personal ongoing connection (relationship)—connection with “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” Indeed, uncrucified people trying to live or represent the “crucified life” presents a wacked and bizarre spectacle of all kinds of contradictions. Let’s take a few moments to walk through a few other scriptures that underscore the essential truth. Firstly, I want to review what I believe is a kind of key scripture—John 6:63, where Jesus states, “The WORDS I have spoken to you are SPIRIT and they are LIFE.” I’m going to take the liberty to create a special phrase—SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE, and incorporate it into these following verses in exchange for the words “word” and “Spirit.”

“I have hidden your SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

“Your SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

“So I say, live by the SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE, and you will not gratify the desires of the SINFUL NATURE” (Galatians 5:16).

“Those who live according to the SINFUL NATURE have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE have their minds set on what the SPIRIT WORD OF LIFE desires” (Romans 8:5).

I sure hope you’re paying attention. Please be careful to answer this question: What or who is controlling your mind?