What's in your hands?

We worshiped out of town on Easter Sunday and, although the Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t the focus of the sermon, that’s always the basis for gatherings of Christians on every first day of the week (Act 20:7; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 11:23-26; Galatians 3:1).

Nonetheless, as I contemplated the points of that particular sermon, a direct connection to Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins occurred to me (1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:24-25).

The sermon was about our talents/abilities and how God can use whatever is in our hands to accomplish his will. The preacher began with Exodus 4:1-5 where, amid Moses’ attempts to get out of God’s call to service, God asked him, “What’s that in your hand?” Then God proceeded to use that simple rod/walking stick many times to reveal his power to humankind as Moses held it in his hand, first proving that to Moses, upon which Moses proceeded to obey God (Exodus 4:17-20).

Over time, God used Moses’ rod to bring about the plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7:8-9, 19; 8:5, 16). Then God started inflicting plagues simply by the wave of Moses’ hand without the rod (Exodus 9:8-9, 22-33; 10:12-15, 21-23). Later, God would use the rod in Moses’ hand again to part the Red Sea, bring water from a rock and bring victory in battle, although for that victory God also used others’ hands (Exodus 14:16; 17:5-13). All of this was accomplished by God because Moses used his hands as directed, whether or not he held the rod.

Fast forward to Jesus’ life, and we find he also obeyed God with his hands and brought about great things, the most important of which was when he took up his cross and then stretched out his hands to be crucified (John 17:1-5; 10:14-18; 19:17-18; 20:19-29; note that Thomas was told to use his hands to prove the crucifixion and resurrection). You see, Jesus could’ve prevented his crucifixion, but he submitted to it to bring about our forgiveness/healing (Matthew 26:36-56; John 19:1-11; Hebrews 12:2-3).

In all these situations, God worked through people willing to submit to his will (Philippians 2:12-16; Ephesians 3:20-21; 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9). That includes taking up our cross to follow Jesus, beginning with baptism to crucify our sinful nature and to receive forgiveness and the indwelling of God’s Spirit by whom God does his work in and through us (Matthew 16:24-27; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 6:3-11; 8:5-17; 12:1-2; Colossians 2:9-12).

God wants our loving obedience so much that he puts us in the most optimum place and time for us the stretch out our hands and minds to find him (2 Peter 3:8-9; Acts 17:24-31). He doesn’t need us to serve him, but he expects it in response to his love (Romans 5:6-11; John 3:16; 14:15-24; Luke 12:47-48; 7:36-50).

Do you love Jesus? Have taken up your cross in response to his love and commands whether given directly by him or through his inspired Apostles (John 14:25-31; Matthew 16:15-19)? The decision to obey or not is in your hands!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].