Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

Becki will be here in a few minutes to do our walk routine—which hasn’t been done in about a week. Dandy is anxious. Incidentally, we’re wondering about getting another dog. That wouldn’t necessarily mean getting rid of Dandy, but he is not a very good guardian of the chickens. Some critter has been killing chickens of late. I think they have murdered and eaten about 10 of them. A good dog wouldn’t allow that.

I took the little boys up into the snow yesterday late afternoon before Becki returned them to their mother. They had a blast.

I’ll be joining a friend this evening to do some ministry at the county jail.

Have a blessed day. We’re off. Some think we’re real off!

Love—Ray.

Wow! Things are heating up in heaven as the “wedding supper of the Lamb” approaches. This is no small party! Lots of noise. Lots of excitement. Lots of praise.

Try to imagine as a loud speaker voice booms from the Throne’s gigantic PA system: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

Let’s take time to give special attention to that special order. I trust it is not boastful to state my belief that I qualify (by means of grace) to participate in this praise. How so?

1. I choose to believe, based upon the standards of the Word, that I have been created and designed to be His servant. I’ve learned enough about life to know that things can go real wacky if I get that turned around so that I regard God as my Genie-like servant to meet my wants and needs. (IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT YOU MUST ANSWER—INDEED, YOU ARE ANSWERING RIGHT NOW: DOES GOD EXIST FOR YOU, OR DO YOU EXIST FOR GOD?)
2. I choose to fear Him—in fact, I’m afraid NOT to fear Him. If I really believe the description the scriptures give of The Most High, how could I deliberately conform to any other posture? There is no way I can avoid the conclusion that IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM! Nor can I avoid the conclusion that people resist that foundational fact to their own hurt.

There are two more classifications of those who are ordered to do this praising—“small and great.” Which are you? Which am I? Well, I think it doesn’t really matter much. And since I know that questing for greatness is such a dangerous option, I’m quite happy with the rating of small.

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7) If this is the song of the redeemed then, don’t you agree that it would be appropriate to practice your lines now?