Hands are amazing. They give, they receive, they create, they hurt, they heal, they bless, they comfort and they are ours. We are often reminded that we are “the hands and feet” of Christ, something taken from the passages that affirm us as the body of Christ, as His harvesters and as His workers. We know that God’s hand does mighty works – protecting, giving justice and comforting us. His hand is shelter, and it is victory. This week, I want to explore just three aspects of how we function as the “hands of Christ” – receiving, giving and creating.

Hands for Receiving

We need God. Being in one’s hand, or reaching hands out to another represents a heart of surrender, of acknowledging a need for help. No-one can compare to the wisdom and strength of God. We need Him every day, every hour, every moment. We lift our hands to God to receive His presence, His help, His instruction and His revelation. We lift up our hands in surrender to Him. We lift up our hands, acknowledging that He is good and He is worthy to be praised.

[Psalm 143:6] – “I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.”

[1 Timothy 2:8] – “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

[Matthew 7:7] – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Hands for Giving

We use our hands to give – to give praise to God, to give encouragement to others, to contribute to God’s justice on earth. The Bible mentions many examples of the “laying on of hands”. The phrase is mentioned in relation to declaring healing over someone, commissioning people for the work of God, and encouraging people in their God-given gifts. In a way, it represents a shared faith, and an impartation of faith through loving, encouraging and journeying with another.

[Psalm 141:2] – “let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

[2 Timothy 1:6] – “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

[Isaiah 58:6] – “Is this not the fast that I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?”

Hands for Creating

Hands create – they make music and art, build homes and shelters, write testimonies and turn plans into action. One thing I see is how hands need instruction. A musician listens so they can move their hands to play in tune. A writer’s inspiration moves their hands to thread together words of a story. In the same way, we as God’s hands carry out His will, but not without instruction by His Spirit.

[Philippians 4:9] – “The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.”

[John 3:8] – “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

[Colossians 3:23] – “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

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Lift your hands up
In God’s presence,
Lift them high in praise.
Place them on another’s back
To bless, commission, save.

Stretch your hands out
For His Name,
Stretch them out to pray.
Use them to stir faith in men,
And in God’s grace they’ll stay.

Move your hands
With selfless skill,
As given by One above.
Make His sanctuary known,
The painting of His love.

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