Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
As a kid, I loved the water and would swim about anywhere and anytime. But last evening when I finally decided to take a dip in the creek with the little boys, it called for about every ounce of my will power to actually immerse myself in that shockingly cold water. Once I did, it wasn’t so bad. Then I shocked the boys further by plastering myself with mud. I figured they would want to do the same. But I guess it was so shocking, they declined. I then polluted the creek by dunking underwater and washing it off.
Lots more on the list. It seems to be getting longer than shorter. But since some of it represents income, I guess that’s important.
You’re welcome to come over and take a dunk in our creek. And there’s lots more mud available
Blessings on your day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Can you imagine a preacher standing before a congregation and beginning his message like this: “The sincere aim and goal of my message to you today is to help you die!?” Lots of mouths would probably drop open at the initial shock of those words. But anyone with knowledge of the New Testament and the spiritual realities it presents would soon get the point. Indeed, the Gospel presents to us the opportunity to die—to become “dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). And when it is all said and done, it is not only the responsibility of a Gospel preacher to help make us die, it is our own. It is our own personal responsibility to respond decisively to the wonderful opportunity afforded us in the Gospel. Be reminded of how Paul began chapter 12: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices (all sacrifices die in one way or another…and don’t get up from the altar to carry on with business as usual), holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
Let’s look again at the Focus verse. Paul presents himself “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering (sacrifice) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” However we process this expression, let’s not mistake the central theme: GOD WANTS YOU AND ME TO OFFER OURSELVES TOTALLY TO HIM—SO AS TO BE CHANGED ON THE INSIDE BY THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF HIS SPIRIT.
May you die a blessed life-changing death—so that you may REALLY LIVE.