Open Hands

My hands are starting to reveal my age. I can still picture my mother’s hands and I adore my daughter’s hands, beautiful.

Their hands and mine have changed countless diapers, cooked countless meals, and wiped up countless spills. They are hands that have cuddled little ones with booboos and they are hands that have been raised in praise to God. I was surprised how many references to God’s hands there are in the Bible.

“In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” (Psalm 95:4 NIV)

Yet there are many mentions of our hands as well. What we should do with them and what we should not do.

I think if we did a study about the Father’s hands, Jesus’ hands, and our own hands – we might put a lot more thought into the wonder of them – but also a lot more thought about how we use them. Even the moment of salvation is often described as: ‘God reached out to me’. The visual of reaching out is a hand extended – accepted, that hand rescues us, helps us, guides us.

“I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:4 NIV)

We are wondrously created, given gifts nothing else in creation has. A mind that creates and thinks and ponders. Emotions, for better or worse. A spirit that is in death’s grip until our hands open and find Jesus.

Hands that are folded, balled into fists, put on our hips or behind our backs – those are defiant hands. Ones that say ‘I’m in charge’. Hands that are open, uplifted, ready to welcome – those are hands the Savior can use.

I hope my children remember my hands, my grandchildren too. Remember them as a comfort and always ready to touch in love. Most of all I hope Messiah will enable my hands to bring Him glory. No matter how crinkly the skin gets or stiff the joints, these hands will lift themselves to the heavens. Look in wonder at the uniqueness of your hands – crafted before your first breath – made for God’s purposes.

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands– establish the work of our hands! “(Psalm 90:17 HCSB)