I’m so happy to be home and I’m looking forward to being with you this Sunday – 8:30 | 10 | 11:30a | 6p.
Don’t miss these next few weeks as we talk about HOW WE GROW SPIRITUALLY and all you need to know about the future of our church and our move to the Regency Movie Theater.
And mark your calendars now for our church-wide VISION NIGHT to celebrate this season of our church and mark a transition to the future: Saturday, September 24, HB Harbor Yacht Club.
Below is a little sample of what we’ll be talking about this Sunday…
caleb
P.S.: Visit our StepInHB.com website and give toward our church’s future!
P.P.S.: Listen to recent messages here.
“Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting.” Galatians 6:11
That’s such a funny detail for Paul to include in his note to people trying to follow Jesus in Galatia. “Look at my big letters! I’m writing this by hand… and I’m writing like your mom with ALL CAPS to let you know this really matters!!”
“My own handwriting”
Writing by hand suggests that Paul had others write for him most of the time while he dictated. Often, Paul would take the pen and write a few words at the end of his letter in his own hand to authenticate the note. In this case, Paul wrote the entire last paragraph by hand. One scholar suggests, “his hand-writing may reflect the energy and determination of his soul” (Lightfoot).
I wonder if Paul woke up in the middle of the night with a vision of the people of Galatia in his mind. He couldn’t wait until his scribe returned. He just had to get his passion out through his pen. “This is what I really want you to get… Don’t miss this…”
And his main point?
Don’t worry about doing everything right (legalism). Instead, do GOOD! And don’t give up doing good. (See Galatians 6.)
“Large letters”
Paul uses large words in his own hand-writing for the same reason you do – whether in a text or on social media. He wants you to pay extra attention.
“I’ve said a lot of things. All useful, I hope. But here’s what it all comes down to…”
Paul’s large letters in his own hand-writing were written to followers of Jesus in about 50AD but they are every bit as relevant to people trying to follow Jesus in 2016AD. So let’s try this again. This is my interpretation and impression of Paul as both he and I write to encourage you today:
Don’t worry about doing everything right (legalism). Instead, do GOOD! And don’t give up doing good. Even when it’s hard… even when you don’t feel like it… even though it didn’t fix it last time… Even though they don’t deserve it… Even though it requires you to sacrifice… DO GOOD… as you remember JESUS and His GRACE for YOU.
May you continue to do good as you rest in grace today.