As Paul started to conclude his letter to the Galatian churches, he wrote the final paragraph in his own handwriting.  This was unusual because he usually dictated what he spoke.  Paul would normally sign off with a short greeting (1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:17) to authenticate the letter as being from him.  But in this letter, he wanted to make sure that his readers were under no illusion about the importance of what he was writing.  

The churches had been plagued by false teachers demanding that all Christians should also follow the laws of the Old Testament, particularly that all males should be circumcised.  It seemed an easy option to avoid persecution from the Jewish community in those days (Galatians 6:12-15).  But to go back to that religion by works would put them under God’s curse as they failed to keep the law (Galatians 3:10-12).   Paul said that would also take away from the work of Christ (Galatians 5:2-6).  Such legalism was unhelpful, unproductive, misleading, diversionary and simply wrong!
 
He needed to make the point again clearly and strongly.  So he wrote the essence of the whole letter in one paragraph, in his own large handwriting.  There was to be no mistake: Paul intended people to change their thoughts, attitude and behaviour when the letter was read aloud to them.  The reference to his handwriting would have alerted the listeners that the Apostle was very serious about what he had written: he would not tolerate false teaching in the churches.
 
There are times when we need to be bold and clear about what is right and wrong.  We cannot indefinitely hide away and allow lies to breed in the vacuum of our silence.  Truth is the only antidote to lies.  However inconvenient it may be to speak out, and whatever consequences may come (and Paul was in prison because he spoke out), the truth must be heard, explained, underlined and set in bold type.  Of course, we will only do that if we believe it and have experienced the power of God’s truth to transform our own lives.  That is why the Holy Spirit is given to every believer, to give us that confidence to be witnesses to Jesus (Acts 1:8).  Let us welcome Him to give courage in our hearts and the right words on our lips - or emails, texts or social media (Matthew 10:19-20).