We continue to share about extending our hands which we can do in many ways (1 Peter 4:8).
We reach forth our hands to give—to give money, offerings, and love gifts. We love to give (Luke 6:38).
“Love ever gives, forgives, outlives, and while it lives, it gives! For this is love’s prerogative, to give and give, and give.” We don’t belong to the “give me/entitlement society. We belong to the king of God givers.
We reach out our hands in fervent love when we pray for the sick. The word is used in Matthew 8:3 when Jesus touched the leper: “And Jesus put forth (ekteino) his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Yes, Jesus was willing to touch the leper.
We should always be ready to touch or lay our hands on those who are sick and pray for them, beginning in the home with our families of course. God loves to “stretches forth His hand to heal (Acts 4:30).
God is always stretching out His hand to us, even when we are indifferent. Proverbs 1:24 says: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded.” Read also Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21; and 10:4.
We reach forth our hands to bless our children. We don’t want to forget to do this. Jesus loved to do it. Mark 10:16 says: “And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” There is something about putting our hands on our children or even other people when we want to bless them. That’s a little difficult if you are six feet apart though, isn’t it? Read also Genesis 48:13-16; Leviticus 9:22 and Luke 24:50.
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
Scriptures about Jesus touching when He healed:
Matthew 8:2, 3 (Mark 1:40-42 and Luke 5:12, 13); Matthew 9:27-29; Mark 8:22-25; Luke 7:12-14; 15:14-17; and 22:50, 51.
Scriptures about God stretching forth His hand to redeem and deliver us:
Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34, 37; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2, 3; 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42 (2 Chronicles 6:32); 2 Kings 17:36; Psalm 136:11, 12; Isaiah 14:24-27; Jeremiah 32:21; and Ezekiel 20:33, 34.
Normal Rockwell painting.