Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good afternoon, dear ones.

Becki and I were able to get off on a walk/jog this morning in the rain. It doesn’t look like it’s raining out there at present, but it’s misty and dark. I’ve been able to use the outdoor wet time indoors working on a sign project—applying graphics to a large 54”-diameter circular saw blade that will serve as the main sign for a local small old-world-style sawmill—started in 1889—Yoder Mill.

Just for good measure, perhaps I will attach another issue of the reading schedule that we’re following—cruising through the New Testament in a year.

Blessings on the rest of your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Let’s understand that the ideal Christian life by divine design is never one of perfect robotic control—of flawless performance. There are many who quest for such a lifestyle with the notion that says, “If I can only pray enough, go to church enough, read my Bible and meditate enough, witness and serve enough, and be so filled with the Holy Spirit, that I can reach a status allowing me to live so far above the pull of sin and error that I become God’s powerful little infallible robot.” I think I have confirmed that God will never allow me to be so full, so super-charged, so inspired, so illuminated, or so endued with power that I no longer have to live by growing faith, obedience, discipline, and intelligence. And to presume otherwise is to set myself up for subtle danger and failure. Without much effort, we could draw from a large volume of sad real-life examples to support this view.

Who knows?—Peter may have been tempted to think, “Thank God—I think I have just about reached the peak of spiritual maturity and achievement. After all, the Lord really likes me and has recognized how important I am to His work, filled me with His Spirit, used me to perform miracles, empowered me to preach the Gospel with dynamic success—I’m about as complete and deserving of acclaim as I can be.” Without extreme caution, those ideas can creep in subliminally without the victim even knowing the danger. (Consider Nebuchadnezzar and be alert—Daniel 4:28-37.)

“Surely not, Lord!” Do you recognize something contradictory here? How can the “Lord” truly be Peter’s personal lord (master, overseer, boss, supervisor, etc.) if he is going to resist His instructions? Is this not reminiscent of Peter’s earlier reaction to Jesus’ announcement of His persecution and murder? “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’” (Matthew 16:22).

I like a concept I picked up years ago while attending an INSTITUTE IN BASIC YOUTH CONFLICTS under Bill Gothard. The idea was contained in a long acrostic-like string of letters—PBPGINFWMY—meaning, “Please Be Patient—God Is Not Finished With Me Yet.” We could use that idea to formulate some good counsel and pretend to offer it to Peter: “OK, Pete—thank God that He has so graciously touched your heart, transformed you, and has profoundly used you, but that does not mean He is finished with you yet. There are still some truths to grasp, some lessons to learn, some changes and corrections to make in your thinking and attitudes—not the least of which is your biased mindset that sees Jews as superior and Gentiles as inferior. Just maintain a focused HEART AFTER GOD, and your humble adventure will be ongoing.” Of course, we were never able to give that good advice to Peter, however, later evidence reveals that he actually came to embrace and promote these very principles (1 Peter 3:8; 5:5-6; 2 Peter 3:18).