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13-year-old Evan O’Dorney of Danville, CA took home the 2007 Scripps
National Spelling Bee championship by spelling the medical term
serrefine [small forceps]. Spelling bees have been around since
before we were children, but seem to be gaining new life these days,
with the finals of this year’s spelling bee making prime time on ABC. I
applaud this, because correct spelling is having a hard time competing
with email and text messaging short cuts. [RU4it?]
Jesus commented about spelling: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the
law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
The jot referred to the Hebrew letter yod, the smallest of the
letters in the alphabet. The tittle referred to a small marking that
distinguished some Hebrew letters from others. Both served significant
purposes for understanding, despite being very small.
Jesus stressed the importance of the law and
obedience to it, and that His life and ministry would fulfill the law.
His death brought reconciliation. “For he is our peace, who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in
himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might
reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the
enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:14-16).
“And you,
being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15). He
fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law, just as He promised. His life
and death spells hope for us—and that is a spelling bee we all need to
win!
Serrafine
by Bob Prichard
www.oxfordchurchofchrist.com |
