Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, dear ones.
The two dogs are waiting and hoping I’ll do a jog and, of course, scratch their passion itch to fetch balls. I think I’ll do a jog just doing the 5 circuits around our own driveway that totals a mile.
There is a point in the reading where I could spin off on another tangent. It’s verse 24 where Festus presents to Agrippa an introduction to this interesting case of Paul as it was dropped in his lap by Felix. He said, “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him…shouting that he ought not to live any longer.” Now just a minute, Mr. Festus—that is not a valid statement to say “the whole Jewish community” is involved in this attack on Paul. You indeed heard from the LOUD MINORITY, but you are hearing nothing from the SILENT MAJORITY. The fact is that thousands of Jews have put their faith in this same Jesus as Savior and Messiah. You just don’t hear them making a lot of noise and stirring up a lot of trouble.
Anyway, this kind of stands out to me as how things are playing out in our own national government and course of our country. The liberal/conservative debate is laced with all kinds of generalizations that are simply not true. It’s not unusual for me to hear some liberal nonsense rhetoric that says, “The American people want…”—and I holler back at the radio, “I do not!” But that’s about as far as my participation goes. I judge that I simply don’t have time to get in there and “fight” for America like a good patriotic conservative. Feel free to scald my buns.
The day is getting away again. Blessings on yours. I desperately need some too.
Love, Dad/Ray.
It is mind-boggling for me to note how many people living in the same world, maybe even the same culture, having the same resources available, yet hold such a wide range of vastly different perceptions of Jesus. To Festus in our reading He was simply a “dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” As I contemplate this range of perspectives and attitudes, I’m thinking of grouping them into three categories:
THERE ARE THOSE WHO VIEW JESUS AS UNIMPORTANT. These are the skeptics and unbelievers. They may recognize His place in history but not regard Him in any way as deity. They may regard Him as having been a nice, moral, and influential man, but that He is presently no more relevant than “a dead man named Jesus.”
THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY JESUS IS IMPORTANT BUT LIVE LIKE HE IS UNIMPORTANT. These are the nominal Christians who may say Jesus is alive but live like He was dead. They may pray nice Christian prayers and sing worshipful Christian songs, but the practical output of their lives does not support their claim.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SUPPORT THAT BELIEF WITH CHANGED LIVES. To begin with, they personally accept the Biblical diagnosis of their need—that they are sinners in need of a savior. They know Jesus is definitely alive and that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. They know by faith and experience that He imparts His life-giving and life-changing Spirit to those who sincerely seek Him, are sanctified by Him, and live surrendered to Him. Their lives become practical demonstrators of the Life of Christ.
Let’s understand that the first two attitudes really play out to be the same in the long run. And, of course, the last one is the right one. It is the only way that leads to Life—to righteousness and peace and joy and blessing and purpose and success and fulfillment and wisdom and victory—and we could go on and on.