Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear people.

Once again, I was up early, prompted by the dog barking. That was about 3:20am. I went out and didn’t see anything that wanted to eat chickens. But by then I was too awake and didn’t think I could sleep again, so stayed up.

I ran off to get some info for signage at 7am. Before taking off, I had this devotional draft near ready, which Becki approved. So you can blame her if it doesn’t taste right.

With all the rain of the last few days, the creek is a raging torrent again. This would not be a good time to fall in.

I just had confirmation this morning of a pretty big saw milling job. So I need to get my ducks in a row to take on that challenge. It will involve moving my track hoe into that site as well.

Blessings on your day. Love, Dad/Ray.

If you are of normal human form, you will note those cartilaginous projections on either side of your head. They are ears, of course—specially designed for picking up sound vibrations from the environment, channeling them to the highly sensitive drumhead membrane of the inner ear, and transmitting them to the brain where they are processed for meaning and emotional effect. Jesus (the Sovereign Designer of ears) is stressing that anyone gifted with these special appliances are under a serious obligation to not just be sensitive to sounds but to actually HEAR (by comprehension and understanding) what He is saying at the level of the spirit, heart, and mind.

There is something quite amazing to behold here. It’s something that I believe should enhance our hearing of these words from Jesus. I’d like you to hear what the prophet Daniel recorded about 500 years prior to Jesus. Listen up: “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people — everyone whose name is found written in the book — will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:1-3).

If you firstly HEAR the words of Jesus so far as recorded by Matthew, and now HEAR these words from Daniel, you really should be feeling goose bumps about now. The harmony and continuity of the basic messages are astounding. As it relates to me personally, I don’t really care much if I “shine like the stars for ever and ever” or if I “shine like the sun.” The important thing is that I shine—that I remain plugged into the power outlet of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:33), have my name “written in the book,” and seek “His righteousness” above all else—which is the only way I can be enabled to shine for Him—with or without my shiny bald head.