By Andrew Hartzler, assistant professor of accounting
This week’s theme: Living Ink: Leaping off the Page
This week’s Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-9 | Psalm 63:1-8 | 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | Luke 13:1-9
This week’s Lenten theme is “Living Ink: Leaping off the Page.” As I reflected on this theme, my thoughts were drawn to a time a few years ago when God’s Word spoke directly to my heart through Hebrews 4:12:
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Throughout my life I had heard that the Bible was a Living Word, but it was easier to view it as a historical account with some wisdom and truths woven into it than it was to view it as a living, breathing Word. What I did not realize was that the power of the Holy Spirit is working through the Word to draw us into relationship with our Creator.
Faith can be an intangible thing, but as I have more intentionally pursued a relationship with my Creator, I have found a tangible response time and time again. God has borne my burdens, brought peace to my troubled mind, cared for those I love, given me fulfillment in my work, brought me out of stress-laden patterns and miraculously caused circumstances to work in my favor. As I have experienced and seen God’s work in my life, the reality that an all-powerful Creator God cares about the details of my existence brings me to my knees as I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
David expresses these thoughts in Psalm 8:3-5:
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.”
These words “Leap” off the pages at me; Who am I Lord that you care for me? – and yet you do.
Reflection & Prayer:
In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. He (Christ) is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. Thank you Jesus for leaving with us your Holy Spirit, so that when we seek you, we find you. Thank you for caring about the smallest details of our lives and for desiring relationship with us. May we never cease to seek after you.