As a teacher, I’'ve often heard that manipulatives are the way. Let the kids work on abstract problems by using concrete, hands-on methods first then move to the abstract. However, if you are not a teacher, that may not make sense to you. When you were teaching your child to tie their shoes, what did you do? You modeled that behavior or you show them how by using your hands. Well, I read something today that made me think of my God as a “hands-on” God. Go back and briefly read the Creation account. Genesis chapter 1:3, “And God said…”; verse 6, “And God said…”; verse 9 and so on. God created everything in our world, light and darkness, land and sea, animals and birds, simply by speaking them into existence. That is until it came to the creation of man. Genesis chapter 2:7 says, “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground….” The writer of Genesis goes on to say in verse 21 regarding the creation of woman that “God caused the man to fall asleep….He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place….then the Lord God made a woman…” God took a hands-on approach to our creation. Why do you suppose He did that? I think He did it for he same reasons He sent His son to us….God loves us. God loves us so much that He wanted to touch and form us from the beginning. What do we do when we love someone? We touch them. A hug, a handshake, a pat on the back all go a long way to show people we care. God’s perfect hands fashioned man and woman. You might recall a devo I did awhile back talking about the mere suggestions of God. All things, but man, were made through God’s speaking. Man was made through God’s action. What love and attention to detail this shows us! Even God’s son, Jesus, was a carpenter…a man who worked with his hands to make things. More importantly though, Jesus used his hands in service to others. He touched lepers, people who could have no human contact, to heal them. He spit in the dirt and made a paste and put it on the eyes of a blind man. We know Jesus could heal people by simply speaking the healing into existence, yet he chose to use his hands. Jesus used his hands to wash the feet of his disciples. Our savior and our Father in heaven used their hands to show love, service and attentiveness. Shouldn’t we? Can’t we? Do we? Look for ways to use your hands for the work of the Lord this week. It may be writing a note of encouragement or a hug to co-worker in need. It may be help cleaning around a home of a neighbor or preparing a meal for an ailing friend. Let your faith show through by being a hands-on Christian just as our God is a hands-on God (James 3:13) President Obama has made a big push for volunteerism the month of February. I challenge you that God wants us to always volunteer in one way or another all the time!
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
