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"A Word Fitly Spoken"
Message
summary:
As the Lord
enables you,
be sure to
offer "a word
fitly spoken".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“A word
fitly spoken
is like apples
of gold in a
setting of
silver”
(Proverbs
25:11).
National
Apple Month is
celebrated
here in the
United States
every year
throughout the
entire month
of October.
It's dedicated
to promoting
apples, apple
growers, and
apple‑related
products. As
part of the
promotion
Ester was
asked to
provide
samples at the
grocery store
where she gave
out small cups
of salted
caramel apple
cider. She
ended up
bringing a 1/2
gallon home
and it is very
good-tasting!
Pennsylvania
is one of the
top apple
growing
states. The
main apple
growing region
is in Adams
and Franklin
Counties to
our west where
there are
thousands of
acres of apple
orchards. But
apples are
grown all
through the
state
including our
area. In
fact apples
are grown in
each US state.
The apple is
only mentioned
a few times in
the Bible. We
often assume
the forbidden
fruit in the
Garden of Eden
was an apple
but the fruit
is not
specified. All
Scripture
references to
this
delicious,
wholesome
fruit are
positive,
including this
romantic line
from the Song
of Solomon,
“the
fragrance of
your breath is
like apples”
(7:8)
Today let us
consider one
of the
Scripture
references to
the
apple: “A
word fitly
spoken is like
apples of gold
in a setting
of silver”.
This is a
Proverb, a
“short pithy
saying”, a
phrase we both
recall from
Bible College.
The word “fitly” in the text translates a Hebrew word found only once in the entire Bible which conveys the sense of “in season”, (translated “aptly” in the NIV). The New American Standard Version uses the phrase, “a word spoken in right circumstances”.
In
ancient
craftsmanship,
placing golden
fruit or
gold-colored
fruits against
intricate
filigree
silver baskets
or carved
silver plates
created a
striking
visual
contrast. The
silver
background
("the
setting")
enhances the
brilliance of
the golden
fruit ("the
word").
So
the sense of
the Proverb
seems to be
that when you
say it and how
you say it
matters just
as much as
what you say.
A wise
response, a
timely piece
of advice, a
gentle rebuke,
or an
encouraging
word delivered
at the exact
moment it is
needed carries
profound
value.
Here are several Scriptures with a similar theme:
“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary” (Isaiah 50:4).
“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” (Jeremiah 31:25).
It
seems to me
that these are
God-ordained
words that go
right to the
heart, meeting
the need for
that
particular
circumstance.
I specifically
recall several
times in my
life when I
have received
a “word fitly
spoken”.
Once,
shortly after
we were
married, I was
greatly
discouraged in
regard to
closed doors
of ministry
and Brooksyne
spoke eleven
meaningful
words she had
put to memory,
“God will
never lead us
where His
grace cannot
keep us.” It
didn’t change
the immediate
circumstances
but it gave me
a much more
hopeful
perspective
that I still
remember some
50 years
later.
When you’ve
experienced
times of
hardship or
perplexity I
hope you can
recall those
special
occasions when
you have been
the recipient
of "a word
fitly spoken".
Or perhaps God
has used you
in giving "a
word fitly
spoken". In
fact we desire
to hear many
and give many!
When we offer
words of
encouragement
or words of
wisdom to
others we’re
usually
unaware of
their
effect!
As I reflect
on times when
I have been
the recipient
of these
needed words
it occurs to
me that
generally they
are very
brief. I
encourage you
to reflect on
times in your
own life when
someone has
been a
blessing in
sharing such
words with
you. We
mull them over
and over in
our minds and
it deeply
impacts our
attitude and
thereby our
actions.
Today’s
encouragement
will hopefully
be a reminder
of the power
of our words
to encourage
others
(whether
spoken or
written).
Every one of
you will have
numerous
opportunities
throughout the
day to build
others up.
For some that
may be a
lengthy
“formal”
discussion.
However most
encouragement
is brief and
may even seem
inconsequential
at the time.
Who
needs to hear
(or read) such
a word from
you
today?
As you ask God
for divine
appointments
in your
workplace or
in your
surroundings
this day, may
you be mindful
of the needs
of those
around you. As
the Lord
enables you,
be sure to
offer "a word
fitly spoken".
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You
know the exact
number of
words that
will flow from
my lips today,
some of them
meaningful and
others
meaningless.
Would You help
me to be
conscious of
the words I
speak to
others and
make me
sensitive to
those who need
caring words.
Help me to
look not only
to my own
interests but
also to the
interests of
others so that
I
might offer
words fitly
spoken to
those who are
looking to
hear a word
from You
through a
servant like
me. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
- October is National Apple Month. It’s the only national, generic apple promotion conducted in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 as National Apple Week, it was expanded in 1996 to a three-month promotional window from September through November. So really, we begin to celebrate this wonderful fruit in September!
- The crabapple is the only apple native to North America.
- Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, and yellows.
- The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
- In colonial times, apples were called Winter Banana or Melt-in-the-Mouth.
- America's longest-lived apple tree was reportedly planted in 1647 by Peter Stuyvesant in his Manhattan orchard and was still bearing fruit when a derailed train struck it in 1866.
- In 1730, the first apple nursery was opened in Flushing, New York.
- Newton Pippin apples were the first apples exported from America in 1768, some were sent to Benjamin Franklin in London.
- One of George Washington's hobbies was pruning his apple trees. So obviously, the fabled Cherry Tree story really has no comparison.
- 100 varieties of apples are grown commercially in the United States.
- 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.
- And, 7,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
- Apples are grown commercially in 36 states.
- Apples are grown in all 50 states.
- Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol-free.
- A medium apple is about 80 calories.
- Apples are a great source of fiber pectin.
- One apple has five grams of fiber.
- Don't peel your apple. Two-thirds of the fiber and lots of antioxidants are found in the peel. Antioxidants help to reduce damage to cells, which can trigger some diseases.
- Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
- Most apples are still picked by hand in the fall.
- Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit.
- Apples are propagated by two methods: grafting or budding.
- The apple tree originated in an area between the Caspian and the Black Sea.
- Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C.
- Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Apples are a member of the rose family.
- Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.
- The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
- Europeans eat about 46 pounds of apples annually.
- The average size of a United States apple orchard is 50 acres.
- Many growers use dwarf apple trees.
- Most apple blossoms are pink when they open but gradually fade to white.
- Some apple trees will grow over 40 feet high and live over 100 years.
- Most apples can be grown farther north than most other fruits because they blossom late in spring, minimizing frost damage.
- It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.
- Apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States. Oranges are first.
- The world's top apple producers are China, United States, Turkey, Poland and Italy.
- The Lady apple is one of the oldest varieties in existence.
- Apples ripen six to ten times faster at room temperature than if they were refrigerated.
- A peck of apple weighs 10.5 pounds.
- A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds and will yield 20-24 quarts of applesauce.
- The world's largest apple peel was created by Kathy Wafler Madison on October 16, 1976, in Rochester, NY. It was 172 feet, 4 inches long. (She was 16 years old at the time and grew up to be a sales manager for an apple tree nursery.)
- It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
- Apples account for 50 percent of the world's deciduous fruit tree production.
- The old saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” This saying comes from an old English adage, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.”
- The top apple-producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and Virginia.
- Almost one out of every four apples harvested in the United States is exported.
- Many apples after harvesting and cleaning have commercial grade wax applied. Waxes are made from natural ingredients.
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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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