The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Thursday,
February 1, 2024
So much for a squirrel-proof bird feeder!
(Photo by Ester Weber)
"Large
Letters"
Message
summary: In
what way are
we expressing
our
authenticity
and leaving
evidence of
our faith and
commitment to
Jesus Christ?
May our words,
actions and
even
handwritten
notes leave
plenty of
evidence and
influence for
the kingdom of
God! Are
you leaving
some "large
letters"?
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"See
what large
letters I use
as I write to
you with my
own hand!"
(Galatians
6:11).
Our
health
insurance
company sent
us each a
survey and
included a
small
magnifying
strip to
assist us with
reading small
print. Well,
that just
might come in
handy
sometime,
especially
when the print
is very small.
Eyesight
tends to
diminish with
age as Solomon
noted in
Ecclesiastes
12:3 where he
writes of the
windows being
dimmed. * (See
Brooksyne's
note below)
Today
let us
consider a
text where
Paul
purposefully
wrote in large
letters.
I wonder how many long-time Bible readers have ever paid much attention to today's Scripture text? "See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!" In my personal study I often need to slow down and ask the text questions. There's a tendency to kind of gloss over seemingly inconsequential texts like this.
I often begin by asking how the text applies to my own life. But sound interpretation begins with asking what was the initial writer seeking to convey and how would the initial readers receive it, understand it and put it into application.
In the daily text it seems that most of the book was dictated by Paul to an associate, technically called an "amanuensis". But Paul was letting the original readers know that he had handwritten today's portion himself. "See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!" It has been speculated that Paul perhaps had some type of eye affliction and thus the greater significance to his statement. Or maybe he was getting older.
We
know one of
Paul's main
purposes for
writing this
letter was to
warn the
Galatians of
the danger
of the
Judaizers, who
were preaching
a distorted
gospel. Now in
this final
section it
seems that he
himself may
have taken up
the pen so
that he could:
(1)
authenticate
the letter
(similar idea
in 1
Corinthians
16:21;
Colossians
4:18; 2
Thessalonians
3:17) and
(2)
graphically
call their
attention to
his main
points.
Imagine
reading this
letter and
from Galatians
6:11-18 every
word was
"large" and/or
in capital
letters. That
would
certainly get
the reader's
attention!
(Precept
Online
Commentary)
But
as I ponder
the matter
further I
consider just
how meaningful
the beloved
Apostle's very
own
handwriting
must have been
to the initial
readers. It
was not only a
mark of
authenticity
but also a
very personal
expression of
care. (Only
the original
handwritten
document would
have conveyed
this since, as
the document
was copied, it
would have all
been in the
same
handwriting
and of course
no distinction
is made in the
text type in
our printed
Bibles.)
Let's ask ourselves, in what way are we expressing our authenticity and leaving evidence of our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ? May our words, actions and even handwritten notes leave plenty of evidence and influence for the kingdom of God! Are you leaving some "large letters"?
Let's ask ourselves, in what way are we expressing our authenticity and leaving evidence of our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ? May our words, actions and even handwritten notes leave plenty of evidence and influence for the kingdom of God! Are you leaving some "large letters"?
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
may the words
of my mouth
and the
meditation of
my heart
overflow
through the
works of my
hands, the
causes that I
support, and
the spiritual
encouragement
that I seek to
give others.
As I meditate
upon Scripture
and apply it
to my life, it
gives me a
firm
foundation
upon which I
remain steady
when the
surges of
doubt and fear
soar upon me
and it is from
this firm
foundation
that I draw
wisdom and
biblical
experience to
share with
others and
encourage them
in their faith
walk to follow
You
wholeheartedly.
I want to
leave plenty
of evidence
that You are
doing a great
work in my
life and will
not be
finished until
I draw my
final breath.
In Jesus name
I pray. Amen.*
Brooksyne's
note: In
sharing our
message today
I considered
several people
whose letters
or notes are
invaluable to
us due to the
fact that
writing is
such a
challenge to
them due to
their visual
impairment,
their old age
(I'm thinking
of a 100 year
old who wrote
to us), or
their
otherwise
steady hand
has been
affected by
Parkinson's
Disease.
People who
deal with
these
challenges and
other similar
ones may feel
embarrassed or
make apologies
for their
situation but
to me those
are the
letters I hold
on to,
reminding me
of how much
effort the
writer put
into preparing
those letters.
It also
reminds me to
pray for them
as they deal
with these
life changing
health
challenges.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Behold
Our God"
Watch
on YouTube
Sovereign
Grace Music
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Weber
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To
donate
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online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
offerings YTD:
$1,940.00
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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