Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings again, dear ones.
I rose, made my list, checked it twice, read, wrote, discussed, jogged, made fruit salad, fought with the little boys (at least had to deal with their naughty un-cooperation and disobedience), and now need to get on with business. Whew! Thano is in bed…not well. I may need to return to the house and coach the competition while Becki does her routine shower, etc. (Good. Becki just called to say Thano has come over to “fill in.”) It’s really quite a normal day.
I am aware that when we began this course into the Old Testament, I had hoped to keep things short and concise. Sorry. I just can’t seem to maintain that standard…”so help me, God!”
May your day be bracketed by seeking Him.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Is it not ironic that the idea of HOLINESS is so regularly denounced and regarded as out-dated moral bondage, when, in fact, it is still the only moral standard that wins God’s blessing and approval? Is it not a bizarre discrepancy that the secular elite want to shake off every vestige of God in our society, yet still want to live and raise their children in a “Christian” community? Is it not a sign of spiritual depravity to legislate against any public display of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS when those very principles are the only proven standard for the function of equitable public life? When SIN is normalized, does this not provide resulting evidence of the spiritual darkness and deception of SIN at large? I would predict that all the problems that afflict our culture and society would be brought to a bare minimum if the principles Leviticus 19 were normalized as our national modus operandi.
Once again, I see here the absolute necessity of a HEART AFTER GOD in order for any of the plans and purposes of God to work out to benefit ourselves—the benefits we universally long for. And that heart condition requires one to exercise the gift of choice so as to choose to please God—choosing to want to please God. It’s an attitude that David represented well when he sang, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1) In other words, “I am the LORD’S and He is mine—that’s all I need—and I don’t want anything to mess up this awesome relationship.”
“I am the LORD who makes you holy.” And the only way He can make you holy is by means of this attitude of heart where you want to be made holy. It’s the simple dynamic of wanting what He wants.