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Pens. We use pens for many tasks: to sign a document, to jot down an idea, to fill a form, to write a letter, to take a note, to compose a birthday blessing, to mark a point, to highlight a word, to leave a reminder. In the jacket I wear on Sundays, I carry pens in a pocket to record a detail or remember a name. Pens are needed every day. I have lots of pens.

In Bible times, women and men used a stylus. This might be made of metal, ivory, or bone. Job 19:24 describes an iron object. The New Testament writers used a dry reed stalk, cut to a small size, sharpened to a point at one end, and dipped into ink.

Writing was very important. But sometimes, writing was not enough. No matter how many pens or writing implements anyone had, sometimes things needed to be spoken.

3 John 1:13 says, “I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.” It seems that John, the elder writing this letter, has so much to communicate that one sheet of papyrus is not enough. More importantly, this verse tells us that what John needed to communicate was too important to be written – it needed to be said.

Today, important communication is often done by email, texts, or letter. Sometimes, it’s easier to write something rather than say it; but sometimes it’s more important to say something rather than write it. In 3 John, John the elder wants to make sure relationships are put right and the truth of the Gospel is upheld. He could have written this, but he preferred to say it. Speaking the truth, in love of course, builds relationships and helps conversation in ways written words cannot.

Today, maybe there’s a relationship into which you need to say something. Maybe there’s a conversation you need to have and writing an email is not sufficient or even kind. Maybe there's a correction to be offered – a correction offered with a tender voice. Maybe there's a word of advice that’s needed – a word best said, not written. Maybe there's an encouragement to be given – an encouragement given with a smile and a hug.

We have lots of pens, but sometimes pens are not enough. When God wanted to save us, he did not send a pen or a note – he came himself.

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

筆。我有很多筆。很多地方都用得到它: 簽名、思考、填表、寫信、寫筆記、寫生日卡、標記、畫重點或寫紙條。星期天我穿的外套裡我都會帶枝筆，來記東西或寫下名字。我們每天都需要筆，因此，我有許多的筆。

在聖經時代，女人和男人都使用手寫筆。這可能由金屬、象牙或骨頭製成。約伯記 19：24 描述了一個鐵器。新約聖經作者使用切成小尺寸的乾蘆葦莖，一端削尖，然後蘸上墨水書寫。

寫字非常重要。但有時，只有寫字是不夠的。無論人們有多少筆或書寫工具，有時還是需要用說的。

約翰三書 1：13 說：“我原有許多事要寫給你、卻不願意用筆墨寫給你。”看來寫這封信的老約翰有太多要傳達的資訊，一張草紙是不夠的。更重要的是，這節經文告訴我們，因為約翰需要傳達的太重要了，不能寫下來—它需要被說出來。

今天，大部分重要的聯繫是透過電子郵件、簡訊或信件。有時，寫比說出來更容易;但有時說比寫更重要。在約翰三書中，老約翰想要確保關係得到糾正，福音的真理得到維護。他本可以寫下這句話，但他更願意說出來。當然，在愛中說實話可以建立關係，並可以幫助書寫做不到的事。

今天，也許有一種關係需要你說點什麼。也許你需要進行一次對話，而寫封電子郵件是不夠的，也不夠善意。也許這是一種需要提供的糾正—一種以溫柔的聲音提供的糾正。也許是一句需要的建議—最好說一句話，而不是寫出來。也許這是種鼓勵—一種用微笑和擁抱給予的鼓勵。

我們有很多筆，但有時筆是不夠的。當上帝想要拯救我們時，他沒有送信來—他自己來了。

讓我們禱告…

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum