In The Hand Of God
There is a beautiful story
about a child playing with a vase his mother had
left on the table for a few moments. When the
mother turned at the sound of her son crying she
saw that his hand was in the vase and was
apparently stuck. She tried to help him and
pulled and pulled until the child cried out in
pain. But the hand was stuck fast.
How would they get it out? The father suggested
breaking the vase but it was quite valuable and
the child's hand might be cut in the process.
Yet he knew that if all else failed there would
be no other alternative.
So he said to the boy, "Now, let's make one more
try. Open your hand and stretch your fingers out
straight, like I'm doing, and then pull!"
"But Dad," said the boy, "if I do that I'll lose
my penny!"
The boy had had a coin in his hand all the time
and was holding it securely in his tight little
fist. And he wasn't prepared to open his hand
and lose the penny. But once he opened his hand
it came out of the vase easily.
What are you holding onto so tightly as to
hinder your walk with Jesus? That vase can be
likened to the entrance to the Kingdom of God.
It is narrow but quite easy to pass in, but
first you must "open" your hand to God and allow
earthly things to fall. If we keep our fists
closed and hold fast to what we have and keep it
for ourselves, we will be unable to take hold of
the "Hand of God"!
We arrived with nothing and will depart the same
way. Jesus told the parable of the rich man who
wanted to build bigger barns to store his grain
and goods. But God said to him, 'You fool!
This very night your life could be demanded from
you. Then who will get what you have prepared
for yourself?' We need to be on guard, or the
things we own will begin to own us. It is our
own clenched fist that makes us a prisoner.
Open your hand to the hand
of God.
Author Known To God
Precious Lord Take My Hand
by Jim Nabors
~~~~~***~~~~~
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, Precious Lord, and lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, Precious Lord, and lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
Oh I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Oh lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, Precious Lord, and lead me home
Take my hand, Precious Lord, and lead me home
| | | | |
