Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear ones.
ILots of rain. Although it’s pretty light right now—which encourages Becki and me to carry on with our little walk/jog routine.
We watched a movie last evening that helped to rob both of us of some sleep. So I was up early enough to allow time for composing a fresh devotional essay from the reading. While it is a new composition, it’s basically a recapping of wonderful old themes.
I now have the mill back home. I used the track hoe at that location to load up a big load of logs which I hauled home about dark last night. I need to unload the trailer before returning for the track hoe. Beyond that, the list is still overwhelmingly long.
Blessings on your day—even if it is Halloween.
Love, Dad/Ray.
This is definitely an interesting exchange between Jesus and His disciples—even puzzling. The whole group had been traveling on foot and were tired and hungry. Jesus alone rested along the road by a well while His disciples ran off to a McDonalds (or the equivalent) in the nearby Samaritan town to get some burgers and fries (or the equivalent). That’s when Jesus had this famous encounter with “the woman at the well.” When they returned, apparently Jesus was not as eager to eat as they expected—or thought He should be. They urged, “Rabbi, eat something” (v. 31). Not only was His behavior irregular by their standards, now His words turn real strange. “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (v. 32). But notice that He had also used some unusual cryptic language on the woman they found Him talking to—“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (v. 10). By her standards it was a surprise that Jesus would even speak to her—not to mention that what He said was absolutely mind-boggling.
I will not claim to have perfect understanding of this Samaritan scene, but I think the general key to it all is contained in Jesus’ disclosure as quoted in the FOCUS VERSE: “My food (and drink)…is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (v. 34). In other words, that which gives nourishment, sustenance, health, strength, and general well-being to my life is integral to my divine purpose for being here. The very purpose of my existence is to please my Maker. Why should that concept be such a hard pill to swallow?!? If it is that—hard to accept—a core flaw is already identified—confirming the glaring missing ingredient of being “born again”—enlightened and energized by the Spirit of God. Therefore, “Blessed are those (so enlightened) who hunger and thirst for righteousness (pleasing their Maker), for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). In other words, in my own words, “This orientation becomes in him, not only an artesian well of living water—but an inexhaustible resource of burgers and fries (or the spiritual equivalent) all the way to eternal life.” It’s all based on the premise that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)—which, if believed and obeyed, pleases God and causes one to fulfill or “finish his work.” That’s the blessing of the “blessed!” Mission accomplished! It’s a dismal thought for me to imagine a grave marker that reads, “Mission Failed!” And what is the very best strategy for avoiding such a dismal outcome?—A HEART AFTER GOD. It’s simple math.