Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
At this very moment, I’m having to listen to the loud b-b-b-b-b-b-b of a red-headed woodpecker hammering on the sheet metal downspout at this corner of the pole barn just over head. A logger friend gave me his explanation for why they do that—it’s like using a drum to call in a mate. Since the guy keeps doing it, maybe it doesn’t work. On the other hand, maybe he keeps doing it because it works so well. Now there’s something to ponder—woodpecker mating psychology. I have enough trouble contemplating my own. We probably should keep moving.
Also at this very moment, Hondo (the black lab) is just outside the door of the studio making a big fuss. His canine psychology is attempting to affect mine—trying to convince me that it’s past time to do a jog along with throwing a ball for him. Of course he doesn’t give a rip about my health and need for exercise. He’s totally self-centered, thinking I’m totally self-centered for not cooperating with his self-centeredness. He reasons, what in the world is human life good for if not to throw a ball for me? At least there is nothing very complex about that worldview.
In about 5 minutes Becki and I will do just that—do a walk/jog excursion—and throw balls along the way. At present it’s nice and cold and clear. It’s a beautiful morning in which to throw balls and be overwhelmed.
Blessings on your goings and doings.
Love, Dad/Ray.
I trust I’m not grasping at straws as I pick up on this phrase. It’s not like there are no other inspiring thoughts to expand on in this passage. But I think there is a place in wholesome Bible study to chew on the small and often-ignored morsels of the Word along with the big hunks.
This verse simply says, “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’”
The two main thoughts that are surfacing in my mind could go something like this:
- IT IS GOOD TO MAKE INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL USE OF THE MUNDANE WHEREVER AND WHENEVER REASONABLY POSSIBLE. Life is short, yet full of mundane activity—activities and tasks that are important, time-consuming, yet do not always require a great deal of concentration. Traveling has certainly become a large portion of the mundane in our modern mobile society. Jesus and His disciples did not have the technological advantages that we enjoy to assist in travel. They simply walked. It took lots of time. Even though many of us today are capable of traveling a lot faster, farther, and easier, it still takes a good deal of time—time that can be intellectually and spiritually wasted if we don’t apply some focus to make use of it.
I’m thinking of a principle relating to this in the instructions to parents given in Deuteronomy 6:6-7. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and WHEN YOU WALK ALONG THE ROAD, when you lie down and when you get up.” Do you see it? Parents are admonished to use time sitting at home, traveling, going to bed, and getting up in the morning as opportunities to address and expound on the important things of life and faith. Don’t let the roar of the radio, the sound of the stereo, or the trivia of the TV drown out and rob you of the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany the mundane.
IT IS GOOD TO MAKE USE OF DIALOGUE IN FACING ISSUES, SHARING IDEAS, AND FORMULATING VIEWS CONCERNING ALL KINDS OF IMPORTANT MATTERS. It amazes me how many people do not seem to take time to discuss important things—even lots of Christians. They talk about all kinds of stuff, unimportant stuff, particularly enjoying gossip, but things like death, eternity, sexuality, God, and principles of practical Christian living are regularly ignored topics. And even though it is so clear that God only gives us one main mode for problem-solving in the form of language (words and their meaning), all too often, conflicts are never really resolved because they are simply not talked through. Jesus sets an example here and gives us insight into the fact that God wants us to think about and discuss important things.
Are you looking for a good important topic to discuss around your next mealtime? Maybe not—but why not? (“Why not?” is a good topic in itself!) How about the one Jesus raised when He was walking along with His disciples? To apply it to us today, we could present it like this: “Exactly who in the world is Jesus?” That really is an important question to get nailed down in our minds—and the minds of our children. Or how about the two questions Jesus raises a few sentences later? “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). I hope you agree that these are definitely important things to think and talk about.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”