Good Afternoon!
I recently published my first book. In fact, it was released this week on Amazon.com. I want to encourage you to go to Amazon and get your copy.
But, when I had completed the final copy of the book manuscript to be turned over to the publisher I had an educational experience. My writing has always been filled with the use of capital letters and bold print to emphasize the sentence, phrase, or thought that I was attempting to relay to the reader. When the publisher returned my manuscript with their professional ideas most of the emphasis I had written in my book was red-lined with the notation that I should change how I write the emphasis in the script. I immediately called the editing department and gave reasons for my choosing the way that I chose to emphasize certain parts of the manuscript. I accused them of taking away the power of the emphasis. I accused them of taking away the personality of the writer.
Then...I see the Apostle Paul writing the sixth chapter of Galatians. He begins by saying:
"Look at what large letters I have written to you in my own handwriting." v.11
Some think Paul wrote in large letters because his eyesight was poor. Then some feel Paul was taking the script and pen from the stenographer and adding his own personality to the conclusion of this letter to personally emphasize...with authority...his final point. It was also a way for Paul to personalize the letter to let them know that the readers were special in his life.
I think all three reasons for the large writing are true.
As he had stated at the beginning of this letter. Your salvation does NOT come by the law. Your relationship with God is based on your Faith in Him. You are justified in the eyes of God because of your Faith. Read 6:14:
"But as for me, I will never boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Written in LARGE LETTERS!
If anyone had a resume to boast about...it was the Apostle Paul.
He stated that "circumcise and uncircumcised mean NOTHING!...instead is a NEW CREATION!" v. 15
Then Paul concludes with an unusual statement. It is a statement that gives the reader the idea that people are causing Paul problems. Also, written in LARGE LETTERS, he is letting everyone know that it is time to stop causing Paul problems. He has had enough. He knows that his call by God is true. He knows that his experiences in God's work are proof of his discipleship. Look at what he says:
"From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I carry the marks of Jesus on my body.
Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." vv. 17-18
When you look at Paul you could see the scars on his face from being stoned in Lystra. On his back were the scars of being beaten by whips hurled at him because he would not denounce his Faith in God.
Paul was saying, "Don't tell me that I'm not a real servant of God. Don't tell me that my message is a lie. Don't tell me my Faith is not real. I have the proof. Do you?"
In this new year let's have the kind of Faith Paul lived. Let's tell the truth. Let's live the truth. Let's be totally submitted to Jesus who is "The Way, The Truth, and The Life!!!"
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you in 2021!
May God Bless You!
Don Betts
DBEA/campus320
DBEAWINNING.COM
TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!