Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Big day ahead again. I need to pay attention to my yellow pad where I have my list recorded. Even though I write stuff down so I don’t forget, I keep forgetting to remember what I wrote down…or even recheck what I wrote down. In other words, I seem to have trouble learning to remember what I’ve learned. Perhaps you can’t relate.

Becki and I, however, did remember to do a walk/jog. And at least I can still remember that we did it.

Please remember to have a good day as you remember the fundamental Biblical recipe for blessing (Psalm 1:1-3).

Love, Dad/Ray.

Now just a minute—how in the world do you prevent someone from despising you? One approach could go like this: Grab the despiser by the collar area of their shirt with your left hand (if you’re right-handed), wave your right fist in his face, and say, “If you don’t stop despising me, I’m going to knock your teeth down your throat!” I strongly recommend that you do not choose that approach—especially if you’re a little scrawny bald guy like me.

I think the verse needs some clarification. My best hunch is that there is one little word or idea that can be added to the sentence— like “legitimately”—which is actually there implicitly. So I reason that the main idea goes like this: “Do not give others any legitimate or valid reason to despise you and the Gospel message that you promote and represent.” Now it makes a lot of good practical sense. And this is clearly the main idea that Paul is declaring to Titus. It’s all rooted in the need to be of “sound doctrine” (1:9; 2:1), as opposed to “corrupted” doctrine (1:15), which either makes the Gospel message to be “maligned” (2:5) or made “attractive” (2:10) with “speech that cannot be condemned” (2:8).

It would be a very good idea to memorize verses 11-14. It is a capsule of sound doctrinal advice that can substantially program you and your performance to be free of any legitimate spite. Let’s review it: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

I have to say that I know something about being despised. I’ve had some experience with being misunderstood, misrepresented, and rejected. There are those who insist on no other course but to despise those who are not in agreement with their own narrow and corrupted views. I’ve had a few collisions with that mindset. So be it. We have to allow that freedom. But “the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth—a faith resting on the hope of eternal life” (1:1-2) sees beyond that stuff—and rises above it. We must accept the fact that some conflicts and issues in our relationships that involve the human will of others simply cannot be fixed. Don’t let that uncontrollable reality bring you down!