Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear ones.
Wow! The sun just popped out. It’s especially spectacular with a clean window!
I did a jog alone along the highway. I felt good. I picked up a pile of cans. I tricked Dandy again so I could run on the flat without a dog on a leash.
Speaking of dogs—we are planning to pick one up this afternoon—up in Washington. I found him on Craigslist. Hopefully he’ll work out here and be accepted by our neighbors.
Oh oh—I don’t think the doctor will like this. I just took my pulse. The good news is that it was a regular rhythm. The bad news is that it was 35.
Have a blessed day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
The caption over this section in my Bible reads, “Testimonies About Jesus.” This is Jesus speaking to the antagonistic Jewish leaders. If you follow along in His verbal defense, it is quite clear that He is claiming MESSIAHSHIP in no uncertain terms. Notice that He cites 5 sources of testimony to support that claim:
- John the Baptist.
- Supernatural miracles.
- God the Father.
- The Scriptures.
- Moses.
At one point, Jesus cuts through all the fat and exposes the root cause for the torrent of antagonism from these Jewish leaders who really wish to find a way to exterminate Him. Who, in their right mind (A HEART AFTER GOD), would be attracted to that brand of faith? Jesus states, “I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” Another way to say what Jesus means could go something like this: “In all your study and learning, through all your background and experience, and in spite of your religious traditions and wonderful theology, you have not even made it to square one insofar as God’s priorities are concerned! You have violated the first and foremost command of the very source of authority that you claim as support—to truly and completely love God!”
I’m going to repeat what I believe to be the vital BOTTOM LINE of our relationship with our Sovereign—nothing is more important than A HEART AFTER GOD. It is that essential disposition of heart and soul that gives life, motivation, and fulfillment to our faith. And without this foundational condition being set at the base of our living, nothing of personal practical Biblical doctrine can be truly built. All our training, all our church activities, and all our spiritual experiences will not, and cannot, yield proper fruit. It is a matter of truly loving God at heart level—A HEART AFTER GOD—the vital catalyst that gives solidity, credibility, and form to our faith. Indeed, without it all we have is a blob of religious goo. Here’s an off-handed poetic fact: A blob of religious goo will just not do, or yield any lasting benefit to you! (I think I feel a song coming on.)