Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, Zane.

We made it home OK—arriving just before 1pm. We drove from Baker City today. Total miles driven on the whole trip looks to be 6069. I figured it would be more than that. Glad to be home. Tazzy and Smokey were sure happy to see us. And, of course, we were happy to see them.

I’m drawing these devotional compositions from the archives of the past and notice that one for today seems to be missing. But ideas presented in those for the last couple days impress me as being so important that I’m going to drop a “double whammy” on you. Hope you can bear that.

Incidentally, we had a brief meeting last evening with your dad in Ontario—where he was to spend the night with the big-rig truck he’s been driving lately. Another old friend from way back in my teenage years in Seattle was able to join in that brief meeting. And just prior to that, we were able to reconnect with college and missionary peers on our way through Meridian, Idaho. Great times.

God bless. Love and prayers—Tua/Ray.

Please don’t be duped by the notion that you can read this passage between verses 9 and 13, then go out and successfully do what it says on your own, by yourself, with just the determination and effort of your own human will. It ain’t gonna happen! And to prove this point, TRY IT! The fact remains that ONLY ONE PERSON IN ALL THE UNIVERSE CAN TRULY LIVE OUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE—CHRIST HIMSELF. AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN IS IN AND THROUGH HIM!

My own experience certainly bears this out. Being the human being that I am, and left to my own resources, my spiritual zeal tends to be a “yo-yo”—up and down, rise and fall—influenced and dictated by my environment, circumstances, feelings, weariness, and other attractions. But Paul here promotes a do-able standard that has nothing to do with such factors. It has everything to do with the conditional requirement of Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20. (Be sure you are familiar with these vital New Testament concepts.)

• NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL. We are called here to excitement and enthusiasm—indeed passion. That requires a serious maintenance program that continually replenishes that which is continually depleted. It involves regular intake and exercise in the WORD OF TRUTH (2 Timothy 2:15).
• KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR. You can only keep something you have, and have the power to keep. God knows you CAN keep your spiritual fervor IF you want to, and IF you do so on His terms—by His standard—which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
• SERVING THE LORD. Here, in simple concise form, is the PURPOSE OF YOUR VERY EXISTENCE! If we are not serving Him, we are automatically serving something or someone very inferior. If Biblical revelation is TRUTH, that’s just the way it is! We are presented with only those two basic options.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. SERVE THE LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1-2, KJV).