Living document. Most of us have heard that term, especially if you ever WFH (Work From Home) on remote teams. In my past job at a technology company, there was always someone sharing a document and making sure we knew when it was a ‘living document.’ For anyone with a questioning look on their face right now, they simply meant that the work on there is not final, that we could, as a team, add, edit, and adjust as needed. In the technology field, there were always updates to ‘living documents.’

If you have read any of my content, you can guess where I’m going with this. God’s Word, AKA the bible, is THE Living Word, the ultimate ‘Living Document’ (Yes, with a capital L and capital D). Don’t stop reading yet. Don’t get me twisted. I do not mean we add, edit, or adjust what’s in the bible. God’s Word is final; it is The Truth. No, I mean the Bible continually adds, edits, and adjusts our lives based on what the words say to us on a given day. Have you ever read a verse and then, a year, month, or even a week later, read the same verse and see or understand something new? That is the Living Word of God working. 

I know I’m not alone in my readings this Lenten season, as I delve deep into the Gospels, reading about Jesus’ temptation, His betrayal, His crucifixion, and ultimately His resurrection. These verses, chapters, parables, and historical proof are not new to me. However, every time I read something new that stands out, catches my ear, and tugs at my heart. I know that it is the Holy Spirit talking to me and guiding me to hear what I need in that moment. 

Today, as I read John 20:1-18, a single word jumped off the page for me: “Mary!” (John 20:16). In this part of the scriptures, Mary was weeping outside the empty tomb, not only still grieving Jesus’ death but now heartbroken as she thought someone had stolen Jesus’ body. Two angels appear and ask her why she’s crying. Mary responds, “Because they have taken away my Lord (she replied) and I don’t know where they have put Him.” (John 20:13). Then Jesus appears and starts to talk to Mary, but she does not recognize Him until He says one word, “Mary!” That is when Mary immediately knows that it is Jesus! This one word, her name, reminded me that Jesus is calling my name right now, too. He’s been talking to me all day long, and I have maybe, sort of, kinda been listening, but when I read Mary’s name, it may as well have said “Melanie!” God is telling me He is with me in my doubts, my health concerns, my stress, my anxiety, my exhaustion, my everything today, right now. Everything I went through today and will go through tomorrow, God is right here with me, and He is calling my name because He knows me and loves me. 

God, I pray that anyone reading this hears You calling their name, too, just as You called Mary’s name that day at the empty tomb. I pray that we all cling to You as Mary did, once we realize it is You, God, that has been talking to us throughout our day. I pray this in Your Son’s name. Amen. 

With faith,
Melanie Drews
Paws on God’s Path