Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

I delivered Thano to his 7am shift at Safeway this morning. Becki and I did a walk/jog. Beautiful morning. And before breakfast, I made a dash to the mechanic’s shop where I learned the latest on Thano’s truck. Surprisingly, we didn’t hear anything from him yesterday. Good news—the engine is back together, running, and appears to be in good shape after all. Whew! But we don’t have the bill yet. After he does a few more things, he’ll finish things up this afternoon and we’ll learn the price tag then.

By the time we hit the hay last evening, it was close to 11pm. That’s very late for us. We did a run to Dallas—hauling a trailer load of cedar fencing that I cut to Andy and Delaine—plus, we attended Devyn’s 8th grade graduation.

I need to run. Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It is very possible that this condition afflicting Peter on this occasion is more commonplace with all of us than we would like to believe. We do a lot of talking and hear a lot of talking. To what degree is it compatible with accurate understanding and balanced truth? I suppose the best antidote to the condition is caution and care in critiquing and drawing conclusions, adding the exhortations of verses 23 and 24 to the mix. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Note: This was stated before Jesus went to the cross.) and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

While Peter beheld the spectacular display of supernatural glory on that mountain top, he made some wrong assumptions and blurted out his impulsive ideas. It was in the vein of “Listen, for your servant is speaking” rather than “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

There are a lot of voices out there—lots of ideas—many of which God hasn’t had anything to do with…even though many will claim He has. God knows that. But He sure sets the record straight by stating His high priority for men before Peter is even finished expounding on his great ideas. “A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him’” (8:35).

It seems to me that we are again facing the essential need of HEARING EARS. (See 27 May 2010.) And once again, we need to be listening.