My Hands
A few days ago I went on a 20 mile bike ride with some of the teens from our youth group (which we have a new name; Ignite Youth Ministries). As we were biking a chain fell off one of the bikes and got stuck. I attempted to fix it until Doug came along and rescued me. I looked at my hands and saw a lot of grease from the chain but had to ignore it until I was home to wash it off.
When I returned home I soaked my hands in warm soapy water. I took a good look at my hands. The grease tainted the creases in my hands and was not coming off as easily as I had wished.
As I gazed at my hands I was reminded of two things:
1. The grease reminded me of my sin. It’s black, it’s dirty and it’s hard to get off. So many times in my life I have failed God. My heart was black; and temptation stuck to me like the grease on my hands. I scrubbed and scrubbed but the grease would not come off completely. Will I ever be able to stop sinning?
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Sin will always be there like the grease that was stuck to my hands and just like washing my hands with soap and water to keep them clean during the day; I need to be consistent in prayer, read my bible, go to church, participate in Godly activities, and to be persistent in my walk with Christ.
2. My second thought I had was what my hands have done for me. As a baby I grasped the blanket my mom had wrapped around me and held her fingers for comfort. As a child I held my fathers hand as he held mine along the way. I touched my dad’s mustache in surprise! I remember using my hands to talk on my dad’s CB in his truck. As a teen I used my hands to dry the tears off my face after losing my best friend. At eighteen I used my hands to hold my son Nicholas for the first time. At twenty I placed my hands in my husbands to show my love and commitment to him. I used my hands to love, nurture, bath, feed and care for my three children. I used my hands to say goodbye to my son Jonathan. I have used my hands to softly touch a loved one on the back to reassure them that it’s going to be ok. I have used my hands to write a letter to someone who needed to hear about hope. I have used my hands to dial the phone to get in touch with an old friend.
We use our hands all the time….
To pray
To lift our hands to the Lord
To worship
To clap our hands
To take pictures
To hold a warm cup of tea
To shake hands with someone you just met
To hold the leash as you walk your dog
To send an e-mail
To give a high -5
To read a good book like the BIBLE
To fix something
To gently touch
To create art
Sometimes we choose to use are hands for bad…
To hurt
To hit
To push
To bring a “drink” to our mouth
To take a puff off a cigarette
To use drugs
To break
To kill
To rape
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
Psalms 24:3-5
So take a good long look at your hands and ask yourself
"How do I use my hands?"
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