The Hand Of God
A child was playing with a vase his
Mother had left on the table for a few
Moments. When the mother turned at the sound
Of her son crying she saw that his hand was
In the vase and was apparently stuck. She
Tried to help him and pulled and pulled until
The child cried out in pain. But the hand
Was stuck fast. How would they get it out?
The father suggested breaking the vase but
It was quite valuable and the child's hand
Might be cut in the process. Yet he knew that
If all else failed there would be no
Other alternative.
So he said to the boy, "Now, let's make one
More try. Open your hand and stretch your
Fingers out straight, like I'm doing, and
Then pull!" "But Dad," said the boy, "if I do
That I'll lose my penny!"
The boy had had a coin in his hand all the time
And was holding it securely in his tight little fist.
And he wasn't prepared to open his hand and lose the
Penny. But once he opened his hand it
Came out of the vase easily.
What are you holding onto so tightly as to hinder
Your walk with Jesus?
That vase can be likened to the entrance to the
Kingdom of God. It is narrow but quite easy to pass
In, but first you must "open" your hand to God and
Allow earthly things to fall. If we keep our fists
Closed and hold fast to what we have and keep it
For ourselves, we will be unable to take hold of the
"Hand of God"!
Jesus told the parable of the rich man who wanted
To build bigger barns to store his grain and goods.
But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your
Life will be demanded from you. Then who will
Get what you have prepared for yourself?'
We need to be on guard, or the things we own will
Begin to own us. It is our own clenched fist that
Makes us a prisoner
We arrived with nothing and will depart the same way.
Open your hand to the hand of God.
Author Unknown