Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good late afternoon, dear ones.

It’s been a rather full and interesting Saturday. Becki and I did our morning walk/jog routine and picked at least a pound each of blackberries. A couple came and loaded up two cord of firewood. In the mix I ran to a guy’s place to see his cedar logs that he may want milled and also talked about a camp situation where I will be participating next weekend. The local fuel company truck arrived to fill my 275-gallon off-road diesel tank--$844!. Then I ran up near Oregon City to load up my track hoe and haul it home. About 3 miles from home I had a blowout in one of the trailer tires. Not good—especially while hauling that machine of about 12,000 pounds. I crippled home, thankful that the other tire on that side held up. Soon after pulling into home, another fellow showed up to have me do some special sawing of his Juniper logs. When I finally got to my old-man nap, it lasted for almost a full hour. They used to only last 10 minutes. Now, I suppose I should try to harvest the plum tree and do some cleanup work. Am I boring you?

Have a great evening if you can.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Please don’t be duped by the notion that you can read this passage between verses 9 and 13, then go out and successfully do what it says on your own, by yourself, with just the determination and effort of your own human will. It ain’t gonna happen! And to prove this point, TRY IT! The fact remains that ONLY ONE PERSON IN ALL THE UNIVERSE CAN TRULY LIVE OUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE—CHRIST HIMSELF. AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN IS IN AND THROUGH HIM!

My own experience certainly bears this out. Being the human being that I am, and left to my own resources, my spiritual zeal tends to be a “yo-yo”—up and down, rise and fall—influenced and dictated by my environment, circumstances, other attractions, and weariness. But Paul here promotes a do-able standard that has nothing to do with such factors. It has everything to do with the conditional requirement of Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20. (Be sure you are familiar with these vital New Testament concepts.)

NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL. We are called here to excitement and enthusiasm—indeed passion. That requires a serious maintenance program that continually replenishes that which is continually depleted. It involves regular intake and exercise in the WORD OF TRUTH (2 Timothy 2:15).

KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR. You can only keep something you have, and have the power to keep. God knows you CAN keep your spiritual fervor IF you want to, and IF you do so on His terms—by His standard—which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

SERVING THE LORD. Here, in simple concise form, is the PURPOSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE! If we are not serving Him, we are automatically serving something or someone very inferior. If Biblical revelation is TRUTH, that’s just the way it is! We are presented with only those two basic options.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. SERVE THE LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1-2, KJV).