Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Romans 12:1 teach us our bodies belong to God and are to be presented to Him as living sacrifices. The world preaches and practices that the body is an ornament to be decorated. But the Bible teaches that the body is an instrument to be dedicated to God and His service. In last week’s bulletin we talked about what our feet should be doing, and we noted that Christians who announce the good news of the Gospel have beautiful feet in the eyes of God (Romans 10:15). This week let’s talk a little about our hands.

An incident in the life of the church at first century Antioch of Syria reminds us that the Church must offer a helping hand when the need arises. After the prophet Agabus warned of a coming famine, Luke records that "the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:28-30). What a remarkable Church! A Church where every member was determined to extend a helping hand to people whom most of them would never personally meet or know living some 300 miles away!

There is an art exhibit at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas entitled, "The Adrian E. Flatt, M. D., Hand Collection." It began as bronze-coated casts of the hands of Flatt's fellow-surgeons aimed to demonstrate that there are no typical or standard surgeon's hands. Each surgeon uses the hands which are uniquely his/her's to improve human lives. The exhibit, now expanded, includes famous people from all walks of life (athletes, entertainers, politicians, etc.). The point is, what makes a great pair of hands? It's not what they look like, but what they accomplish. Among the most precious are the hands of mothers, nurses, grandparents, etc. I'd like to see a monument to them!

But my favorite hands are the ones into which nails were driven for me. ...my Savior's. Those hands were pierced for us on the cross as He died for our sins (John 20:20, 25, 27). Our hands can be great, too, if we use them in loving service to God and our fellow man. What does God see when He looks at your hands?

Eric