Stretch Out Your Hand

Daily Reading: Luke 6

Scripture Focus: Stretch out your hand. (Luke 6.10)

Devotional Thought: One day, the Lord went to "church" where he found a man who needed healing. Those in charge thought that healing was a work to be done on another day, in another place, by another person. Jesus was of a different opinion. He said healing can come any day, any place, by God's hand through any man.

In this story, we see the stark contrast between sin and grace. Sin depicted by both the withered hand and by the withered spirits of those leaders of the synagogue. Grace resides in the person of Jesus Christ.

Consider...

• Sin disables ... Grace enables. We are not told what caused the right hand of the man to be withered. But, we do know that originally disablement was not in the created order. It was only with the entrance of sin that withered arms became a reality. Sin disables us in so many ways, but Christ says to us: "Stretch out your hand!" What is hidden in fear and shame can be brought out to the light and made whole. Thanks be to God!

• Sin delays ... Grace demands. In this instance, "sin" is represented by the attitude of the synagogue rulers. "There's plenty of time for healing later. We are here for 'church'! We can't be distracted by this nonsense." They completely missed the opportunity for good. Sin would have us delay and delay and delay until the time of healing was past. Again, Jesus saw it differently. In grace he demanded: "Stretch out your hand." Grace says, "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6.2).
  

Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace. Help me to respond here and now to that grace in faith. Help me to 'stretch out my hand' and receive the healing of the Lord. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them! 19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD! 20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! 21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD! (Psalms 135:15-21)