“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3-4
Month 2 of the World Race is coming to an end in a few short days, we will be leaving Nicaragua this Saturday to head to Honduras to begin month 3 of this amazing journey. As I sit down to reflect over everything the Lord has been teaching me this month and all the ways He has been moving, a prominent theme resonates in my heart.
The word He has given me during this entire month of manual labor ministry has been HANDS. We have worked diligently with our hands every day here in Nicaragua…
Whether we were using our hands to pick ax rock and dirt out of the side of a mountain for hours on end to clear a way for the church to be accessible to the community, or grasping a shovel to move mounds of dirt from a pile of worthless rubble into the church to become the holy ground of the alter.
Whether we were using our hands to pound rocks into gravel to form the foundation of the sanctuary of God, or using them to stir up mud to cement stones together to form the walls of a families future home.
Whether we used our hands to pass the very healing power of God through our finger tips into ailing or tormented bodies bringing them to wholeness, or laying them gently over broken bodies of disabled children bringing them the comfort and peace of Christ in the simple love language of touch.
Whether we were using our hands to clutch dearly to the very powerful words of God in His Holy scripture during times of failed strength and weak hearts, or lifting them in unashamed worship when He removes His hand from the cleft of the rock and we get to kneel in His passing glory. All of this precious touch, all of these powerful workings of the hands, have shown me they are not my hands doing any of these kingdom things….
THEY ARE THE VERY HANDS OF CHRIST!
“Into your hands I commit my spirit.” Psalm 31:5
Into Christ's tender hands, I have given over my spirit, my life, my heart; In turn into my spirit He has given me the ability to serve, minister, and love in the strength and power of His hands.
“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:11
It is not my hands that have had the strength to pick ax through a mountain. It is not my hands that have laid the very foundation of the Church of Christ. It is not my hands that have had the ability to form mud into the cement that will hold together the walls of a home. It is not my hands that have caused illness and darkness to flee the body. It is not my hands that have loved through touch the unloved and untouchable. My hands are flesh, Christ hands are Spirit and power and majesty! Through the touch of HIS HANDS all things are made whole. Through the accomplishments of HIS HANDS all glory, honor, and power is given to our great God!
My prayer forever more will be to serve with the very HANDS OF CHRIST!
“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20
