Devotional 3-24-13

HANDS

“If you do what the Lord wants, God will make certain each step you take is sure.
The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall.” Psalms 37:24 (Contemporary English Version)

God will hold your hand. What a magnificent image!

As the song so aptly puts it - God’s got the whole world in God’s hands. (Excuse my attempt at trying to make this song’s words not gender specific.)

God’s got the tiny little baby in God’s hands.
God’s got the wind and rain in God’s hands.
God’s got you and me, brother, in God’s hands.
God’s got the whole world in God’s hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing. God’s hands. Your hands. So take a look at your own hands - those appendages that God created at the end of your arms. Study the veins, the wrinkles, the cuticles, the lines in the palms.

Then open and close your hand and notice the amazing complexity of how all the parts of your hands, work together. Think of all the things you tell others with the motion of your hand. You wave hello; you ask someone to come closer; you tell someone that something is okay; you stop someone. What a tool God has equipped you with.

Think of all the things you can do with your hands. Build, cook, play an instrument, speak with sign language, point, and direct traffic.

So as we near the end of this Lenten season, where we have searched ourselves, and worked on building a better, more open and loving relationship to God, it is important for us to remember that God wants each of us to love and care for all of God’s creation and God’s children. You are the only hands God has here on earth now. So what are you doing to lend a hand in love and grace for one of God’s children? Are your hands helping or hurting? Are your hands creating or destroying? Are your hands praying or lashing out?

God will hold your hand as you continue this journey of life. Will you allow God to direct your life and your hands, so that you may fulfill your mission of loving God’s children to the best of your ability?

Rev. Suzanne Ellis