I found new meaning to the words Jesus spoke about “jots” and “tittles” today. You remember the verse, don’t you?

“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.”

A few months ago there was some kind of change made by the powers-that-be on how we would access the iBulletin list on the internet. This change also affected Sue Watt, who has a list through our set-up for her supporters and prayer warriors. It took a bit of readjusting to learn how to get to the lists, but it wasn’t impossible.

Sue needed to make some changes to several email addresses, but couldn’t access or even find her list. She inquired and I sent what I thought were brilliant, thorough, easy-to-follow instructions on the revised procedure that we were given. Sue made many attempts to access her mailing list, but with no success. You can probably imagine the frustration.

A second (or third, I’m not sure how many times now) time Sue sought for the correct information. I was sure I had given every detail accurately, until this last time. In comparing the “address” for the list in a web browser, I had made only one change, but two were necessary.

Every detail (words, dashes, colon, backslashes, and dots) had to be exact before we could regain access to Sue’s email list. At times I have wondered why the internet insists on being so precise.

You know that a “jot” (or “yod”) is the smallest of the Hebrew letters and a “tittle” is a small mark that is the only difference between two other Hebrew letters, much like how the bottom hash of our capital “E” distinguishes it from our capital “F.”

But Jesus wasn’t talking about what would be necessary to access a webpage on the internet. He was speaking about how completely His Word is true or inspired—even in what may seem like insignificant details.

One of those “insignificant details” says that the penalty for failing to obey God’s Law 100% is death. We might, by luck, finally “crack the code,” get the web address 100% accurate, and view the particular page we want to see. We are doomed because it is impossible that any of us could fulfill every jot and tittle of God’s Law.

But Jesus Christ did.

I haven’t yet heard back from Sue whether she has succeeded in getting to her list. I may know in a few days or so. Knowing me, I will probably have to try again, with clearer information. I don’t have to wait now or for the future to know whether God’s Law has been fulfilled and if it’s fulfillment by Jesus Christ is for my benefit.

I want to thank you for praying about the double funeral I officiated last Thursday. In thirty years providing mortuary services, this was only the second double service the funeral director had a part in.

As I was preparing, a verse from Isaiah became especially meaningful. Isaiah 41:10 says,

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

I had a fresh perspective on the verse when I read it in The Message (and made a minor adaptation for my clarification):

Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, [and I'll] keep a firm grip on you.

Though the prophecy was made to Israel, as believers we share this assurance, written so long ago, because of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross.