Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

Becki and I talked too much after I delivered her morning tea in bed, so we’ve run out of time to allow our walk/jog excursion. I need to get things together and take off for a sawmill job about 20 miles away—arriving there at 9:30am. I actually did a little portable job with it yesterday that wasn’t on my list. That materialized right after I had finished the repairs. I was surprised to have it perform better than it has for a long time—probably because I put so much effort into adjusting the blade guides to where they should have been. I also took time to service the mill with an oil chance and replacement of filters.

I had my first experience at reading from an electronic book last night—on an electronic tablet that I’ve hardly ever touched. Becki set it up and showed me how it works. I want to promote reading this book—even though it is not nice pleasant bedtime reading. It’s a new book by Jay Sekulow—RISE OF ISIS: A THREAT WE CANNOT IGNORE. I wrote down a hunch in my journal—that ISIS will likely function as the medium of tribulation that causes THE TRIBULATION to be such a horrific and global state of tribulation. If that movement is not squashed and stopped by decisive force, which is not likely, that hunch can hardly be otherwise.

Have a blessed day—as you remember where our real security lies.

Love, Dad/Ray.

I’m being impressed again with the weight of personal responsibility that God attaches to the salvation equation. It seems to boil down to the simple fact that without our intense, serious, and focused personal commitment to God’s program, nothing much is going to be made of our knowledge of the Gospel. Just listen to these exhortation phrases that are laced through today’s reading:

• (1) “Train yourself.”
• (2) “Labor and strive” (implied).
• (3) “Command and teach.”
• (4) “Set an example.”
• (5) “Devote yourself.”
• (6) “Be diligent.”
• (7) “Do not neglect.”
• (8) “Give yourself wholly.”
• (9) “Watch…closely.”
• (10) “Persevere.”

Wow! It sure doesn’t sound like Paul allows us to be very casual or superficial about these matters. In fact, I am convinced that such a casual and laid-back form of Christianity makes one very vulnerable to what Paul describes in verses 1 and 2—leading one to “abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” To be sure, the enemy is not very concerned with our being an “average” or casual believer—especially one that is quite satisfied with that status.

I think it’s important to encourage believers with the routine and principle of PERSONAL DAILY DEVOTIONS. Here’s a simple 4-point outline approach that I have often promoted.

1. READ. Especially for those who are not fast and competent readers with ample time on their hands for personal study, I like to promote a READ THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN A YEAR plan. Of course, reading beyond this bare minimum is encouraged. It’s good to begin each reading with a prayerful attitude that says, “Lord, what do you want to say to me today?”
2. REFLECT. Think carefully. Chew on it. Do your best to understand the meaning and message.
3. RESPOND. Communication is required in any love relationship. Prayer is a vital avenue of response to God and His Word. Another, of course, is obedience and personal application of His Word.
4. WRITE. I think it is a good exercise to have and maintain a kind of devotion journal, a notebook in which you record thoughts, ideas, cross-references, and lessons that flow out of your prayerful reading.

What’s the value of all this? For one thing, it is kind of hard to find a backslider (or a believer who is cold and weak in faith) who follows this kind of daily discipline (daily discipleship). Also, I think the last verse of our reading gives a pretty good statement of value in support of this kind of routine: “…if you do (these things), you will save both yourself and your hearers” (4:16).