TAKE MY HAND

My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me;
And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand.
John 10:27,28

I've been thinking about the importance of hands. We take for granted our two hands and attached fingers that seem to do a little of everything for us. We could list all the things our hands do but among those important things, is how we extend our hands into the lives of others where we can serve them in so many ways.

Our pastor was recently speaking of an influential man in his life who had been his Sunday school teacher mostly in the elementary grades. At the same time, as I recall, he had a godly pastor who also had great influence in his life. He made an interesting comment about one or both of these men. As I recall, he said, “His hand prints are all over my life.” My mind immediately went to those godly folks in my own small church while growing up, who I look back to and can say with my pastor that there were many in my small church whose hand prints are on my life even to this day.

As I write, it's Father's Day weekend. I didn't have as strong a father as some folks have but Daddy always got a card and some kind of small gift. Father's Day is often relegated to a lesser position after Mother's Day, but what would we do without either our own fathers or those fathers we have watched in our home influencing our own children.

As we were driving through the national park today, we came to a place where as a family we walked a paved trail year after year when on vacation. I remember with fondness with each of our three children t the older toddler stage that Brian would reach out for a little hand. Perhaps a little one needed steadied on the trail or needed the learning to stay near a parent. I remember those days often lingering behind and seeing a tall dad lovingly holding a little hand.

I also recall with the birth of our three children, one of the first things I noticed when Brian saw his baby whether number 1, 2 or 3, he would often hold the baby's head from behind in the palm of his hand, often touching the little face with a finger of his other hand.

With a car problem that had to be taken care of yesterday, Brian was right on the problem of fixing it. When he came in, he reminded me of my mechanic dad because his hands were black with grease. To be honest, he looked a mess mostly because he is always so clean and well groomed. Those hands had another purpose though with the need of fixing a problem that would affect us both if not remedied.

There are other hands, though, far more precious as the hands of a dad, grandpa or father image in one's life. I'm thinking of the nail-scarred hands of Jesus and His promise to always hold us close enough that we are right in His hand. That is above and beyond what any earthly father can provide for his children, no matter how strong to do as much. That hand is always near to guide and direct:

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed,
and who shall disannul it? And his
hand is stretched out, and who shall
turn it back?
Isaiah 14:27

No one can hold back the Lord's hand that is stretched out to us to guide, comfort and yes, at times lovingly correct us.

We don't have to be anyone special to make good use of our hands. Solomon tells us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might....” (Eccl. 9:10a) Our hands are meant to be used in service whether to family, friends or the world around us. This service is to be done in a whole hearted manner not for our own glory but for the Lord's. Above all, as we serve with hands or hearts, all should be done to God's glory.

Meanwhile, we can curl up in the might and safety of our Lord's hands where nothing can get to us or rob us of relationship with Him. That's such a spiritually cozy place to be, isn't it?

Father, thank You for Jesus and for the hands that so lovingly care for and guide me every step of my way. I praise You today for that love that never changes and that keeps me secure in You. In Jesus' precious name....Amen