Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special ones.
I’ve covered my basic routine…transacted a good deal of business…and spent some time on the phone with a sawmill tech support guy…since I need to resolve an alignment issue with my mill. Now I need to run off, fuel up my truck (which is pretty scary with the price of diesel these days), then get back to the mill where I will finalize that job and haul it home. There’s not much more to do to finish up. I had hoped to complete the job last evening.
My friend (I think he’s my friend) Gaylord Janzen sent me an interesting spin in response to my story of finding that boat adrift in the Arno Lagoon in the Marshall Islands years ago. He’s got it figured out. Here’s what he wrote:
“I can see how it happened now.... a couple of SCUBA divers popped to surface only to find that someone had stolen their boat. Sharks ate their dead bodies. So sad. gaylord”
Have a great day…as you maintain view your greatest day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Jesus is presented here as being on a much higher plane than was Moses. But in comparison, we run the risk of being no higher in our following of Jesus than most of the Israelites were in their following of Moses. Be reminded and warned that nearly all the people of Israel who left Egypt never made it into the Promised Land. That is a fact worth pondering and heeding.
Let me cite two things that stand out to me loud and clear in this passage relative to my personal responsibilities:
- Firstly, I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FOCUS OF MY FAITH—JESUS. “Therefore, holy brothers, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (3:1). I can’t seem to avoid the repetition of equating this basic responsibility as being the maintenance of A HEART AFTER GOD.
- Secondly, I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE TO LOOK AFTER AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FAITH HEALTH OF THOSE IN MY COMPANY. “See to it that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” (3:12-14).
Listen to this same passage in the Message translation: “So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.”