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—created centuries before by a great sculptor—was still standing.
Taking a closer look, the people discovered that both hands of Christ had been sheered 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.
At the base of the statue they inscribed these words: “He has no hands but your hands.”
Truly, in the church we are the “hands of Christ” . . .
Christ wants to do great and wonderful things in the world today, but he often chooses to work through the hands of Christians to accomplish his purposes.
If the hungry are fed, it will be through our hands.
If the naked are clothed, it will be through our hands.
If the lost are evangelized, they will hear the gospel from us, God’s people.
We often pray, “Father, comfort the bereaved and minister to the sick. We pray that the lost will obey the gospel. We pray for those who are unfaithful and who need to come back to You. And we pray for those who are hungry and poor, and for those in our society who are marginalized.”
That’s a prayer that we ought to pray, but praying it should cause us to reflect on how God will answer it. How will God comfort the bereaved? Through our compassion and presence, perhaps?
And how will the lost hear the gospel? Will God speak to them from heaven, or will he use someone like you to speak a word about Jesus?
The truth is, God can work however he chooses to in the world, but much of what he does happens through us. He has no hands but your hands.
