Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear people.
Nice looking morning. In about an hour Thano will join me in going to the mill job again. There is still a good deal to do there.
I did a little tree work late yesterday afternoon. It was on our own property. A three-masted top from a big cedar tree broke off about 40 feet up and was hung up, leaning on the surrounding trees. I took it down one mast at a time—each being like trees themselves—about 8”in diameter and about 50 feet long. Now there’s another big mess to clean up. I’m very good at making messes.
I’m being called to breakfast—so we’ll be in monologue again later.
Love. Dad/Ray.
When the rulers of the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch recognized Paul and Barnabas as visitors, it was no accident that they said to them, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” If we can believe that these first missionaries were indeed sent by the Holy Spirit, there is no difficulty believing that this opportunity was a “God thing.” Even though he didn’t say it out loud, Paul had to say internally, “Yes indeed—do we ever have such a message!!!” He proceeded to give a concise presentation of the Gospel. Verse 39 stands out to me as a wonderful and profound MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT: “Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.” The same Spirit that sent these missionaries touched many hungry and responsive souls that day.
Many of us, by virtue of frequent exposure, have become so accustomed to the Word of God and the basic Gospel message that we lose a measure of our sense of marvel and appreciation for it. It is too easy for the commonly-heard Gospel to become commonplace. But let’s be reminded right here and now that we, as believers, are custodians of a tremendous MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT for all people everywhere. It is a MESSAGE of hope and help, of light and life, of peace and power, of trust and truth, of grace and guidance, of benefit and blessing—absolutely adequate to guarantee God’s presence and pleasure both now and forevermore. Is that ENCOURAGING or what?!
Please be a faithful receiver and transmitter of this Gospel MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT. To hide or silence it is to promote darkness and discouragement.