Daily Thought for Monday, March 28th

March 28, 2011

The Body, Part Six (The Hands)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Today’s Thought:

“Reach out and touch someone.”– Marshall McLuhan (Add slogan for Ma Bell)

Today’s Question

Are you aware that sometimes it is better to let your fingers do the walking, rather than let your lips do all the talking?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“God has given us two hands, one to receive with

and the other to give with.”

– Billy Graham

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” 

Much of the life and work of the body of Christ is centered on giving.  Giving of our time, our talents, our treasures and our love to those in need.

The hands are the part of the body, which seem to be the most significant to the act of giving.  Sometimes in the tactile touch of a hug, or a pat on the back or even a gentle hand on the shoulder that conveys empathy, love and care.  

Spiritually speaking we must be willing to touch a thing if we desire to change that thing.

One of the greatest commandments, with promise that Jesus gave, was that we love one another.  Love is conveyed and communicated in many ways but the most effective way is through the sense of touch.  Touching a life does not always require physical contact but it does require us to reach out, grasp and hold onto that thing, life or person we wish to make a difference in or for.

As a part of the body of Christ we must all touch others in order to complete the work and will of God in our own life.  So in some way we all serve as hands or at least fulfill the functions of hands at some point and time.

Our objective as hands in the body of Christ should be: “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the grace we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do humble work.” – Mother Teresa

But as hands of the body maybe our most important function, duty and responsibility is to remember this:

“Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea

Tale a look at your self and you can look at others differently

By puttin’ your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.”

- Gene Mac Lellan

Hands touching hands to change lives are only efficient and effective if they have first touched God.

Today’s Verses:

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

                        Matthew 5:33-45

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I know you are reaching out to touch me and as I grasp your hand help me to use my hands to touch others with the love, grace and mercy I have been touched with.

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