Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

It’s a gorgeous sunny view from this dirty window—which helps to kind of diminish attention given to the dirty window. Since I hope to do a desk change today, maybe that window will get cleaned in the process.

There is a lot of other STUFF to handle today. So much so that I cancelled my mill work today to deal with it. There is a huge desk that needs to be reassembled and set up, a refrigerator to exchange, a BBQ grill to unload and give away, shelving to make space for and set up so we can fill them with STUFF. Hope I can make some substantial headway with it all without making the mountain too much higher than it already is.

Speaking of BBQ grills, we finally gave the TRAEGER GRILL we were given a test run yesterday—cooking up a roast, a big turkey breast, and a few potatoes. It all turned out superlative—helping me understand why these pellet-fired grills have become so popular. Incidentally, that’s the same grill I hauled home from Dallas, which also fell off the trailer on the way, getting all banged up and contorted. With some creative straightening and repairs, I was able to get it back into good working condition. Even though that grill represents more STUFF, I think I like that one.

I guess I just gave you a load of trivia. Hope it’s not overload. At least you won’t be obligated to build more shelving to store it—along with all your other STUFF.

It sure is good to be able to live life with a view of things important beyond STUFF. I hope you have a happy STUFF day along with being a serious balanced follower of Jesus.

Love. Dad/Ray.

Peter was clearly saved and filled with the Spirit. But those special God-given experiences were not sufficient to automatically and instantaneously correct all his wrong views and thinking so as to maximize his effectiveness as an agent of the Gospel. He still had some undesirable baggage—some wrong ideas concerning people and the plan of God. To get Peter’s attention and help him break free from some preconceived traditional thought, God used some special dramatic means. Fortunately, Peter was a pretty good student and submitted to God’s lesson plan—though it was definitely difficult. Peter demonstrates how he is learning revolutionary new stuff when he testifies before Cornelius’ household, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean” (10:28). He reaffirms his learning new lessons by saying, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right” (10:34-35). Indeed, the need for a HEART AFTER GOD is cross-cultural, cross-lingual, and international before God.

In all of this, Peter was actually gaining some personal and practical insight into the ancient promise given by God to Abraham when He affirmed that through Abraham’s family line “all the peoples on earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:23). It’s worth noting the words Peter used to describe the typical Jewish attitude. He said, “It is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.” To this we can say, “You’re right, Peter—it’s against your law, but not God’s.” That’s what Jesus was talking about when He reprimanded the Pharisees and teachers of the law and said, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” He went on to quote Isaiah and said, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matt. 15:3-9). Peter was now being shaken and fine-tuned by the Spirit of God to get a better grasp of Jesus’ last words when He gave His disciples this mandate: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation” (Mk. 16:15). He needed to personally understand that God’s gift of salvation was not exclusive—for just Jews.

Do you think there could be some form or pattern of thinking in you that is not exactly right? Is it possible that God desires to show you something important that you still don’t clearly understand? Sorry—but probably there is. One thing for sure is that just because you are saved and have experienced some special encounters with God is no guarantee that you are completely right about everything. Please be a real disciple and seek God and study His Word. Then you will be able to testify with Peter, (in so many words) “GOD HAS SHOWN ME important things that I didn’t recognize or understand before.” So your adventure continues.