Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear ones.
I have another confession to make. Yesterday morning when I did the walk between the house and the studio and felt the cold air and observed the sky, I was suddenly curious as to the conditions at TIMBERLINE on Mt. Hood. “26 degrees with 7” of new snow” was the report. Wow! In June? You guessed it—I yielded to a decision to be irresponsible. I had a great time skiing the upper area of the Palmer lift. The only problem was that they don’t extend old man benefits over into this part of the season. Like everyone else, I had to pay $66. Ouch.
A bus is just outside my window that needs old graphics removed and new graphics installed. I need to order a banner. I need to submit a report of my sawmilling production volumes. Then…there’s a bunch more.
Blessings on your day and whatever you need to squish into it.
Love, Dad/Ray.
My mother used to quote some lines that she heard an old immigrant use to describe the typical vicious circle of his survival: “I digga the ditch, to earn me the mon’, to buy me the bread, to give me the strength, to digga the ditch.” Indeed, “…his hunger drives him on” to perpetuate that circular routine.
Paul makes reference to an important perspective relative to our function in relationship to God and His purposes: “For we are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV). Jesus’ words bear the same message: “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2, KJV). To be sure, no one can really pray that prayer without recognizing that they individually are an intended candidate. If this is so, how do we identify the form of hunger that drives this arrangement? Jesus offers the best answer: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6, NIV). And it is not just any version of “righteousness.” Matthew 6:33 helps to narrow the field to HIS righteousness: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV).
The bottom line, as I see it at present, is this: A HUNGRY HEART AFTER GOD OFFERS THE MOTIVATION TOWARD BEING A FAITHFUL AND SUCCESSFUL SERVANT BY HIS STANDARDS. Our hunger (or lack thereof) drives us on!
the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”