In His Hands

Created by His Hands"

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:7-8

I love this Psalm, who doesn't? And on this beautiful day here in Tucson (sorry all you Northeasterners), who could help but praise our God and creator? He created all things with His hands, and He created us. Well, that's all we need to put a price tag on us. Think about famous artists and musicians. After they're well-known, they can create anything and it costs in the millions.

So, we are worth 'many sparrows' or a million bucks in todays terms, because the One who created us knew what He was doing. He's awesome and amazing, so He makes the best of everything. We're masterpieces, because we are pieces made by the Master! We are crafted by His hands, and the artist who made us so wonderfully, will not abandon us... He'll save the work of His hands.


Protected by His Hands

1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." -Deuteronomy 20:1-4

More Deuteronomy and more talk of plundering and war and armies. All of this is quite difficult for a young Brethren like myself, but hidden in this chapter is advice where the people are told to first take a peace offering and then attack if it is not accepted. But, that aside, I want to look at God's protection instead.

While many of us may not have enemies in terms of a war that we are fighting, there might be enemies that are either physical or emotional. Sometimes an enemy might be a bad attitude or a bad habit or an addiction. And boy, do we have to battle against those! That's trickier than a physical person.

I'll recount a story I overheard last night from a friend (disguising names to protect their identities). Ben stated that his co-worker Thomas hated him. They really never got along. Then they were sent on a 3 week-long assignment to a little rinky-dink town with nothing around. And after a few weeks of being there, they're now friends. Fighting against this enemy meant turning the enemy into a friend, and God brought Ben the victory, protecting him from what could've been an awful week... God brought blessing.


He Directs Us With His Hands

32"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert[d]! You do not know when that time will come. 34It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' " -Mark 13:32-37

I like to look at verse 34. The man going away is God (although He's not really 'away'; this is a mere illustration). And God put us in charge of his house, each with an assigned task. Our work here on earth is meaningful, our comings and goings, our ways of being. God directs us in how to live and what we should do for one another.

Perhaps our 'job' is not the only thing, but our own roles within the church- as teachers, greeters, writers, technical crew, support staff, choir director, baker, hospitality crew, deacon, small group leader- are what God has put us in charge of. We are 'assigned' a task. Our Master, the creator of the universe, loves us enough to take some of what He could do out of His hands and into our own... directing us with our hands of how to use our own hands.