A callus bulges from the inside of my left, middle finger on the joint next to my fingernail.  A scar cuts a frown on the inside of my right thumb.  A silver, embossed, crown of thorns rests passionately on my left ring finger.  These are my hands.  They are more than just bone and muscle and skin.  They are more than just the part of my body that resides at the end of my arms.  These hands of mine are shaped by my story and they express the wishes and will of my entire person.  Be it for good or for evil.

It’s nothing to brag about I know (and it’s actually more of a lament), but I’m amazed at how these hands of mine can do both good and evil almost simultaneously.  One moment my hands are praying for God’s will to be done, and the next they are conspiring to do my own.  I understand my natural bent and talent is toward self-serving.  Yet, sometimes I wonder how I got so skilled at serving my own will and why I’m so limited in serving God’s.
  
I think the answer lies in learning to use chop sticks.  Or for that matter, in being taught to write, play tennis, play the piano, or the like.  To learn to do any of these things well, we must learn from a proficient teacher how to posture our hands in the right way.  And we must be given time and space by our teacher to practice and gain skill.
 
Our culture values self-serving hands and is set on encouraging our natural bent toward self.  It wants to be our teacher.  It provides not only constant motivation but endless practice - venues where we are taught the evil art of selfishness.  The truth is that we are all being shaped each day.  The question is simply how and by whom?  The evil intention of our culture is for us to be conformed to the way of this world.  Such that, in the grasp of our self-serving culture our hands are shaped to grab life with selfish ambition and self-gratification.   

In Romans 12:2, however, Paul calls us not to be conformed to the way of this world but instead to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (and hands too, for that matter).  As disciples, Jesus is our teacher.  His life-giving grasp conforms us into his life-giving way. 
 
As I have been studying the Bible lately, I have come to see the importance of Jesus' hands in the expression of his loving will and life-giving way.  His compassionate hands brought healing to the sick and sight to the blind.  A young girl was raised from the dead through the powerful, life-giving touch of Jesus’ hands.  Satan and his demons were defeated by the strong hands of our Lord.  And of course, we cannot forget Jesus took the nails of our sin with his forgiving and gracious hands. 

Jesus' hands express the goodness and health and purpose of the life of God and the intended life of humanity.  Jesus' hands have overcome the power of this world.  That’s why I need Jesus to grasp my will and my hands within his own.  His hands alone can heal me.  His hands alone can deliver me.  His hands alone can shape me such that my hands may also overcome the power of this world with his goodness.  I don’t know about you, but I want these hands of mine to learn from One who has mastered death and life. 

Take a moment to look at your hands.  What stories do they express?   Is our worldly culture being allowed to shape your grip on life?   Or are you in the Master’s hands?  How is Jesus calling you in your life to rest within his shaping grasp and life-giving grasp today?

In His grasp,

Mark