Thought for the Month - November 2011

"He has no hands but ours" By Barry Adair

A statue of Jesus is not something you will see in Grove, nor in many evangelical churches, I guess! However, this month I want to include a story about a statue of Jesus…

During World War II, a church building in Strasbourg was destroyed. After the bombing, the members surveyed the area to see what damage was done. They were pleased that a statue of Christ with outstretched hands was still standing. It had been sculpted centuries before by a great artist.

Taking a closer look, the people discovered both hands of Christ had been sheared off by a falling beam. Later, a sculptor in the town offered to replace the broken hands as a gift to the church. The church leaders met to consider the offer and decided not to accept it. They felt the statue without hands would be a great illustration that God's work is done through his people.

Although many churches and statues were indeed destroyed in Strasbourg during the Second World War this may only be an anecdote. A more recent story is also told about a statue with no hands outside a catholic church in San Diego, California. However, it is not the story that I want to leave with you this month, but simply the lack of hands on that statue of Jesus.

In the evangelical church today, truly, we are the "hands of Christ". If the Lord Jesus Christ is to reach out to the poor and hungry, it must be through our hands. If He is to reach out to the sick, lonely and depressed, it must be through our hands. If He is to reach out to those who are undergoing persecution, it must be through our hands.

That a holy God would use His sinful creatures to fulfil His will still amazes me. But if we allow ourselves to be led by His Spirit, then God will use us in reaching out to a lost and lonely world. I know that it isn't easy sometimes to reach out to others when we often struggle just looking after our own family, keeping down a job, attending our local church etc. - but the Bible tells us this…

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, NIV)

Being part of the 'body of Christ' means that, as Bible believing Christians, we all have a role to play. And if you are not sure that you are part of the 'body of Christ', then please click on the link at the bottom of this page.

See something around you that Christ needs to take care of today? He has no hands… but your hands!

If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
Jesus is the way

("If we are the body", by Casting Crowns)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!