Hands Extended to our Family

Monday, July 27, 2009

As we continue to look at the theme of “SERVING”, this week I want to draw our attention to, “SERVING WITH OUR HANDS”.

Yesterday, the sermon focused on having a heart fixed on Christ. We learned how that heart shapes our words to SERVE in a Christ honoring way. With the same heart our actions are also shaped in a Christ honoring way. What does Scripture teach us about what that looks like in our day to day lives? That will be our focus this week.

Let’s begin right in our own homes. How can we use our hands to serve those we love most? We have learned that meaningful touch is important in relationships especially in the home. Parents, take the time daily to give your children several hugs throughout the day. Do the same with your spouse. Take time to use your hands to play games, to help with chores…

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Take some time to reflect on these verses and consider ways that you can serve your family this week with your hands. Be creative. Take time to post ways that you think of. Your ideas may help someone else Extend their Hands to their family in a new and meaningful way.

Prayer: Lord, this week we want to surrender our hands to you to be used in ways that honor you and those around us that you have called us to serve. Amen