Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, nice people.

I didn’t quite make it to the point of pumping out a composition yesterday. There were a lot of other things going on to get in the way—not the least of which is my memory. But we did knock out our exercise routine and did a walk/jog up the hill again before church.

Matters of huge prophetic significance are in the making. Allow me to recommend listening to the latest from J.D. Farag. I resonate with the way he thinks and struggles. Even though a lot of the prophetic signs and fulfillments are clear, exactly how to respond and behave is not. I suppose the best we can do is to seek God, love Him, trust Him, obey Him, and pray.

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

He has indeed been gracious to us and blessed us. But let us not be too narrow with our view as to why He has been so gracious, and why He has so blessed us with the provisions of life here and now and forevermore. It’s not entirely centered in us. His motives reach beyond only us who believe, receive, and worship, but include attracting all those who should. He intends that we who are blessed by His grace actually become agents for advertising the same—promoting His grace and blessing beyond ourselves so that others can get it on it all—so that His ways may be known among all peoples and nations, along with the ultimate “gift of God (which) is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Four times in Psalm 67 the pronouncement is made, “May (all) the peoples praise you.” Wouldn’t that be wonderful?! Think of it, if everyone in the world were like-minded and united in their recognition of the Biblical God’s grace and blessing, we would surely have the universally longed-for recipe for universal utopia! But as it is, the version of utopia conceived and promoted by so many is nothing even close to this version which David describes here, and which I choose to embrace.

Without a doubt, there are inexhaustible blessings available to a HEART AFTER GOD—a mindset that accepts the advice given in the first lines of Proverbs 7. “My son keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live” (vv. 1-2). Such a heart condition that places hungry value on God’s Word—reading it, meditating on it, and obeying it—seems to mysteriously prompt Holy Spirit enlightenment, which allows one to see what David sees and longs for. If I were to offer a New Testament counterpart to this advice, I would suggest Colossians 3:16-17: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”