Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

I took Thano to a Ford dealer to get a part that they were supposed to have ready for pickup—but was not. Then we took care of some legal stuff at the DMV. This is for a little Ford Focus car that we picked up—needing an engine overhaul. Except for that little part, she’s ready to roll.

It’s sure a pretty view out this window with the sun shining at present. Hope it stays that way. I just resolved a problem on the sawmill. Now I need to do a little tree/branch cleanup at our in-law’s place from the recent wind storm. Then there’s a million other directions to pursue. Almost a million. I’m afraid to count.

Have a blessed day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Who gave up? Luke and the other disciples at Caesarea gave up.

What did they give up? They gave up trying to dissuade Paul from continuing on to Jerusalem since the Spirit was revealing to so many that he would face arrest and a heap of trouble there.

Why did they give up? Because Paul was such a stubborn hard-head—so insistent on going to Jerusalem, no matter what. I think part of it was related to that vow Paul took when he had his head shaved (Acts 18:18), and it would just be too much of a violation of his conscience to go back on it. If so, I can relate to that.

Is there a lesson here for us? I think so. I think the disciples did the right thing by giving up. They appropriately shared their concerns and opinions. But then they backed off and let go and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” And I think the Lord’s will was done, and would be done, one way or another—even if Paul didn’t go to Jerusalem. Why? Because Paul, and those associated with him, loved God and were basically responding to His call in the best way they knew. They were living to serve and please Him. Don’t miss this point. That’s the vital material God needs to make all things work out right that may otherwise work out wrong. That’s the wonderful promise I see in Romans 8:28. Please read (or quote) it again. This means to me that it is quite permissible to be a stubborn hard-head in some matters as long as it is accompanied by a stubborn love for God.

I like Luke. He’s the kind of a friend you’d be benefited to have. Although he didn’t agree with Paul’s decision to carry on to Jerusalem for obvious reasons, he didn’t abandon Paul. He carried on with him, loyal to the end. Paul’s letter of 2 Timothy was written close to the end of Paul’s life. He was a prisoner in Rome at the time—the result of this last fateful trip to Jerusalem. Paul mentions in 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me.” That’s very noteworthy to me. Luke gave up on his opinion, but he didn’t give up on Paul.