2016 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67


January 15, 2018

Greetings, dear ones…

…on a beautiful Monday morning. I’m kind of in scramble mode again—needing to get back to the sawmill that I left at the unfinished job in Gladstone. I’m supposed to be there within the hour—and am running late.

No jog this morning. We’ll see how much aerobic exercise results from this mill job.

Have a blessed day.

Love, Ray

15 January 2018
Matthew 11:1-30
Focus:“Then Jesus exclaimed, ‘Father, thank you, for you are Lord, the Supreme Ruler over heaven and earth! And you have hidden the great revelation of your authority from those who are proud and wise in their own eyes. Instead, you have shared it with these who humble themselves. Yes, Father, your plan delights your heart, as you’ve chosen this way to extend your kingdom—by giving it to those who have become like trusting children.’”
Matthew 11:25-26 (The Passion Translation)

There are some who really believe that miracles, healings, and dramatic Spirit-authored experiences are supposed to be the norm for true believers—that God intends that all His followers live here in perfect health, prosperity, and spiritual ecstasy. This passage helps me to focus on the higher purposes of God—that His administration of such supernatural experiences are not intended to be ENDS—but means to an END. So, what are the ENDS? I’ll call attention to three that I glean from this passage.

HUMBLE YOURSELF. Of course there were many around Jesus who witnessed His miracles of healings, demon deliverances, and even raising dead people back to life. But they missed the point. All they saw was the MEANS. The END was “hidden.” It never occurred to these people these dramatic signs were actually gracious invitations to a closer walk with “the Supreme Ruler.” There was so much more to learn and know from this relationship with God than just witnessing or experiencing His temporary touch. Being “proud and wise in their own eyes” caused them to be disqualified for the END of “great revelation.”

REPENT. “How tragic it will be for the city of Korazin! And how horrible for the city of Bethsaida! For if the powerful miracles that I performed in Korazin and Bethsaida had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have humbled themselves and repented, and turned from their sins” (11:21, TPT). We can’t miss the personal responsibility that God attaches to observers and recipients of Divine miracles.

ACCEPT AND FOLLOW CHRIST. “And Capernaum—do you really think you’ll be exalted because of the great miracles I have done there? No! You’ll be brought down to the depths of hell because of your rejection of me.” Wow! That’s pretty clear, and very serious. Christ is the Centerpiece. He is the Supreme End—as well as the Supreme MEANS to that Supreme END. Indeed, as Jesus Himself said, “No one comes next to the Father except through union with me ” (John 14:6, TPT).

“It is despicable to the Lord when people use the worship of the Almighty as a cloak for their sin,
but every prayer of his godly lovers is pleasing to his heart.”
Proverbs 15:8 (The Passion Translation)