Written

Written

When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.

ENTERING THE LONG HALL, I looked around with amazement. On both sides of the room, benches ran parallel to the walls, the vertical windows above them reaching high toward a classic Gothic vaulted ceiling. Jostled by the crowd, my attention was drawn from the elaborate architecture to the object of my visit: a rare Gutenberg Bible.

Gutenberg’s Bible was produced in the 1450s as the first substantial book produced in the West using movable metal type, an advancement akin to the internet in terms of its impact. Before movable type, scribes had to write each word of a book. Most Christians didn’t have the opportunity to read the Bible for themselves. Many couldn’t read Latin and didn’t have access to the written word anyway. The advent of a printing press made books, including the Bible, more accessible to ordinary people. This new technology motivated and transformed literacy and education all across the world.

Because of Gutenberg’s innovative printing press, the Word of God—and many other texts—became much more accessible to the common man. Rather than locked away in a monastery, ideas could be freely shared. As more and more people had access to God’s Word, they were able to learn the truth of his love and grace and mercy for themselves. What a legacy! The Bible is now the world’s bestselling printed book, available in more than 636 languages, with at least 1,142 languages that have access to the New Testament.^a

Written words have power because of what they signify; it’s the meaning behind them that gives them the ability to move us, anger us, and fill our hearts with hope or disdain, fury or purpose. Like Gutenberg’s Bible and the technology that powered it, the words we read and write have the power to change the world. What a great privilege it is for us to partner with God in sharing his Word with others.

Lord, thank you for the gift of your written Word. Help us to recognize its value. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Write out your favorite verse. Send it to a friend along with a note of encouragement.