✝ Daily Encouragement (2/1/24) "Large Letters"
Published: Thu, 02/01/24
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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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. ![]()
(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"?
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]() * 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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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.
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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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options