Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear people.

It’s rained all day. At least it’s 29 degrees at the ski area—so it has to be dumping snow.

We just returned from our sing time at Pheasant Pointe. I didn’t send this devo before church because I wanted to take time to download a photo so I could attach it with this. So I’m now sticking it on showing that little building project that I finished up yesterday. All I need to do is to stick the end capping on the other end. We may do some other visiting this evening.

Blessings.

Love, Dad/Ray.

On one hand, we might be tempted to judge David as being given to some exaggerated claims of self-righteousness— attempting to use such claims as leverage on God—reminding God of how astute he has been in following His precepts—thus obligating God to intervene quickly to rescue and vindicate this faithful follower. But beyond that possibility I’m inclined to interpret David’s claims as representing something extremely valuable for all of us—the psycho-spiritual self-confidence and peace that flows from a clear conscience. It’s the knowledge that I have done my utmost to be and do what is right before both God and man. I don’t think David is being any more arrogant with his clear conscience HEART AFTER GOD lifestyle than Oswald Chambers was with his well-known devotional book title, “MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.” The point is that HIS HIGHEST is worth MY UTMOST. If that’s not a sound investment strategy, I don’t know what is.

In the same way that little bugs and microbes can cause major terminal diseases, little sins can cause major heart disease—potentially spreading to all other parts of one’s being—rendering all kinds of disabilities in serving God. The author of Hebrews sure gives some urgent practical advice—“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (David being one of them), let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin (little deliberate secret violations of God’s standards for righteousness) that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

I’m reminded that Paul gave young Timothy two pieces of advice in one chapter regarding the great value of a clear conscience. “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk” (1 Timothy 1:5-7). “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18-19).