“If we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching
Why aren’t His hands healing
Why aren’t His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way.”

The chorus of “If We Are the Body” by Casting Crowns

For many years (before I became a Christian) I watched from the outside as supposed Christ followers did anything but follow in the footsteps of their Lord and Savior. They spoke a good game and preached all the right words, but it seemed to me that very few of them ever put into practice what they said.

After becoming a Christian I decided I would give these Christians the benefit of the doubt; maybe there were underlying reasons or circumstances why only a few ever really did anything “Christian” outside of the four walls of the church. But over time I have found that, in general, Christians of the Western World are all talk and no action. And back in the late 90’s it horrified me to discover that I too had slipped into becoming one such Christian; I was so horrified that I vowed never to become lukewarm again.

A few years ago I heard the above song for the first time and I was moved in my spirit by the words. Not to accuse anyone of anything but we do have a responsibility to God and our fellow human beings to go and share the gift of salvation we have been given with all that we are – using our hands, feet, mouths, and so on.

Today I was thinking about hands and I concluded that they’re pretty useful things to have. Personally, I am very glad for my hands as they serve many purposes including holding my wife’s hand, making bread, playing ball with my kids, playing my guitar, weeding the garden, and so on.

The truth is most people who have ever lived have had hands and hands can be used for so much good such as playing music, painting beautiful works of art, and writing masterpieces. And yet, just as easy hands can be used for such evil; murder, accusing, ripping down, and violence. It seems that many times our hands are extensions of what is in our hearts.

Take a look at your hands. Think about what you use your hands for. Do you use your hands to help people up or push them down? Do you use your hands to point the way to Jesus or point out others faults? Do you use your hands to build or tear down; create or destroy?

The Bible refers to “hands” many times; it talks about hands destroying, killing, healing, helping, praying, laboring, building, and so on. So I don’t think I’m alone when thinking about my hands. As I type this I cannot help but see my hands, the fingers of which are speeding over the keys and pressing down to write the words that help me to share these thoughts with you. And as I look upon my hands it is my prayer that they will only be used for God’s work and not the work of the evil one.

Have a good one and remember to hold up holy hands in praise to our Lord.
Chris
April, 2010

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