"Oh, Love, How Deep," verse 4 (ELW 322)
4. For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought,
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
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When I was in college, a familiar question in churchly circles was, "Have you found Jesus?" As a budding theologian, I was somewhat put off by this particular evangelistic approach and often answered, "Why, yes! He was behind the sofa all the time." It wasn't until years later that I discovered the reason for my annoyance. When we envision faith as our quest for Jesus, we find ourselves trying to go "up the down escalator," as Gerhard Forde, one of my professors, put it. The great good news of the gospel is not that I need to commit to a lifelong search for Jesus, but that Jesus has always been actively searching for me.
Seek us, O Lord, seek us and find us, embrace us with your love, draw us close that we may be yours forever. Amen.
Mark Throntveit, '75
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament, Luther Seminary
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Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
When I was in college, a familiar question in churchly circles was, "Have you found Jesus?" As a budding theologian, I was somewhat put off by this particular evangelistic approach and often answered, "Why, yes! He was behind the sofa all the time." It wasn't until years later that I discovered the reason for my annoyance. When we envision faith as our quest for Jesus, we find ourselves trying to go "up the down escalator," as Gerhard Forde, one of my professors, put it. The great good news of the gospel is not that I need to commit to a lifelong search for Jesus, but that Jesus has always been actively searching for me.
Seek us, O Lord, seek us and find us, embrace us with your love, draw us close that we may be yours forever. Amen.
Mark Throntveit, '75
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament, Luther Seminary
-------
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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