Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Our friends, Elvin and Eunice Huston, just left our place. They popped in last eve and spent the night. I’m saying that to say that we discussed this devotional composition this morning and they, along with Becki, endorsed it. So, if you don’t like it, blame them. (Smile)

Thano doesn’t work at Safeway today, and the little boys are not here, so I need to get out there and line him out on some urgent work that needs attention. Here he comes. Good bye.

Be blessed. Love, Dad/Ray

We can only imagine that the brothers of Joseph were constantly hammered by guilt—their memories replaying over and over the rotten things they had said and done to Joseph years before. Very likely, as they lay on their beds at night, they would reflect with uncontrollable torment on the nightmare scenes of their own evil. Joseph has already proven he had not forgotten. He’s shown he was capable of “cat-and-mouse” cunning in his dealings with them. And even though he had given verbal forgiveness, they couldn’t help but wonder if that’s all it was—just verbal, just formal, just superficial. Wasn’t it possible that Joseph’s amazing grace was only temporary—a ploy for honoring their father and youngest brother? But once their father was gone, then what? By personal observation and experience, they knew too much about the capacity of the human heart to hold hidden bitterness and wait for the just right opportunity to unleash revenge. What a hell of a way to live! Sadly, most people DO live that way!

This is a good place to direct our full attention to probably the most wonderful and liberating benefit of the Biblical Gospel—YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH GUILT! If 1 John 1:9 does not translate as awesome music to your ears, your internal orchestra is seriously defunct! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”