Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
Oh my…we kind of slept in. We’re late. I got this ready to go last night…so here goes…and here we go…all the way to Molalla from Columbia Falls in one day. Becki’s sister, Char (Aunt Char), is with us.
Blessings on your course today.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Can you imagine a preacher standing before a congregation and beginning his message like this: “The sincere aim and goal of my message to you today is to help you die!?” Lots of mouths would probably drop open at the initial shock of those words. But anyone with knowledge of the New Testament and the spiritual realities it presents would soon get the point. Indeed, the Gospel presents to us the opportunity to die—to become “dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). And when it is all said and done, it is not only the responsibility of a Gospel preacher to help make us die, it is our own. It is our own personal responsibility to respond decisively to the wonderful opportunity afforded us in the Gospel. Be reminded of how Paul began chapter 12: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices (all sacrifices die in one way or another…and don’t get up from the altar to carry on with business as usual), holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
Let’s look again at the Focus verse. Paul presents himself “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering (sacrifice) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” However we process this expression, let’s not mistake the central theme: GOD WANTS YOU AND ME TO OFFER OURSLEVES TOTALLY TO HIM—SO AS TO BE CHANGED ON THE INSIDE BY THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF HIS SPIRIT.
May you die a blessed life-changing death—so that you may REALLY LIVE.