Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special ones.
We just knocked out our walk/jog up the hill in the rain. Now Becki is about to put breakfast on the table, after which we’ll get on with the work lined out for both of us today. It’s a daunting list.
I confess that when Becki and I went out for out walk/jog yesterday morning, the combination of elements prompted me with this question: Why not now? That is, this could be about as great an opportunity as ever to break away and hit the snow-pack on Mt. Hood. I did it, not realizing at first that it was a holiday—Martin Luther King Day. Therefore, there was a crowd to deal with. But being a single (alone), I was able to catch chairlift rides without a lot of wait time. I’ll stick on a photo where I look back to where I’ve come from near the top of the Magic Mile lift. Later in the afternoon, I made it home in time to put the final touch on that building project. So I’ll stick on a photo of an interior view I took in poor light—just to give the feel. The lady/owner is absolutely elated.
Blessings on your course today.
Love, Dad/Ray.
This psalm of David has to be on the list of his TOP TEN MASTERPIECES. I eagerly look forward to hearing him sing it someday—in person.
Yesterday we raised the question, “Why does God make loving Him the first and foremost premise for our living?” I’m inclined to raise a similar question: Why does God place so much emphasis on His Word?—this collection of inspired writings that we have come to call THE BIBLE? Our first answer could be similar to the one from yesterday too—BECAUSE HE LOVES US. “For God so loved the world” that He not only gave His only begotten son, but He also gave the inspired written revelation of that gift so that we might have a substantial basis for our believing in Him—so that we might be given the option of escaping the NATURAL SIN NATURE that results in eternal death—and be given the highest reward—EVERLASTING LIFE.
If I were to select a single word to describe the list of applauses David ascribes to God’s Word (“the law of the LORD”) within verses 7 through 13 (please read them again carefully), I think it would be TRANSFORMATIONAL—as it is presented as a perfect medium and guide, if properly consumed and followed, for transforming a worthless sinner into a cherished saint—much like the process of metamorphosis that transforms an ugly worm into a beautiful butterfly. That’s His divine intention. Isaiah is inspired to describe those same intentions this way: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). Let’s get it straight—our TRANSFORMATION is the purpose for His love!
Therefore, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (NATURAL SIN NATURE), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (“…reviving the soul”). Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Can you even come close to conceiving a personal purpose any bigger, better, or best than this one—a reason for joining the ranks of human history any more important than attaining to “his good, pleasing, and perfect will”? For the life of me, I can’t. Is something wrong with me? Or is something right with me? I guess it depends on who you ask.