Into Your Hands

Perhaps it is the times in which we live that made these words stand out so boldly in my reading. "Into Your hands I commit my spirit." Those were the last words of Jesus before He died. But then, He lived! He rose from the dead. An example to us about our level of commitment?

What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it just going to church on Sundays and praying before meals? Or is it something more?

"When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy a came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." - Matthew 8:1-3

How committed are we in our faith? What are we willing to do for God? Are we willing to serve as a volunteer at a Covid-19 vaccination site? Helping distribute food at a food pantry? Are we willing to die, like Jesus did? What is present day Christianity supposed to look like?

Using Jesus as our example, it seems obvious that we should be loving and serving others - our neighbors. But I think our willingness must go deeper than that.

"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” - Luke 21:1-4

What would it look like if each of us "gave all we had?" If you have your Bible handy, open it to Luke 9 and read the first four words of verse 47. They read, "Jesus, knowing their thoughts...."

Have we given everything to God? Even our thoughts? There is a spiritual battle taking place for our souls. Right now. Scripture says that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Is he wandering around in our heads? Yes!

We need to remember whose we are. Christians belong to the Lord! Paul called himself a "slave to Christ." Shouldn't that be us?

How will we be obedient today? How can we make God proud? I think it's by loving others, MORE than we love ourselves.

Sacrifice. Love. Obedience. Grace. Truth.

Don't those words define Jesus? They should also define us.