The little one, is a very sweet and a cute girl. She is always jubilant. The other day when my wife and I were talking about her, she said these things about her which amazed me. One day, she had struggled to wear one of her dresses and my wife had gone to help her. But she refused. Only then she noticed that she was actually not struggling to wear, but was practicing to button and unbutton her dress, so that she could do it with ease! She was doing this when she was just four years old. Amazing isn’t it. And she keeps doing the same with many other things. She engages herself in practicing all useful activities with one hand. I know that you all would want to know the name of this smart girl – she is Sharon!
The other man, Buddhan, works in our canteen. He makes tea and packs & supplies snack items for the customers. As far as I have known him, he is a very soft spoken person. But he keeps doing his job, as if his handicap is no matter at all.
The reason for their handicap is pitiful. Sharon was abandoned as a new born baby and the dogs ate away her one hand. Buddhan met with an electric accident when he was just eight years old and he lost his arm.
But more than them we are the ones who are to be pitied for – those with two hands. Instead of being thankful to God for the two hands that He has given us, how ungrateful our actions are? How useless and sinful are the activities of our hands? (I leave the reader to introspect here with whatever they are involved in). Does that glorify God? Is this the worthy purpose for which it was created? Would we not be accountable to God one day for all that we do? How wretched are we? Hurting ourselves, hurting others and ultimately hurting God! And at the end living with all that GUILT. The guilt – is this not obvious that we are not living at peace! For some in the long run, guilt turns into becoming indifferent – indifferent to sin itself! Why? “Because everyone does that… I have tried long and hard enough to quit but in vain…”
Don’t give up… We can live at peace… a Guilt-Free life…
“For God did not send His Son (Jesus Christ) into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17 (ESV)
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)
Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV)
If Jesus would have said this in the context of the Beatitudes, He would have said it like this,
“Blessed are the one-eyed and one-handed, for they will inherit the kingdom of God”.
Because, “……. unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV)
Made to serve, called to be holy,
Make a choice, to use it worthy;
Sinful use, is an abuse –
Of its purpose & worth reduce;
Lift your heart, lift your hand,
To the Saviour, on the cross who hang;
Sin – a pleasure by your hands,
Shed His blood, pierced nails in His hands;
Guilt and shame, your sin brings,
Pardon and freedom, the Calvary springs;
Cleansed hearts, Cleansed hands,
Cleave to God, be in His bands.
A ten point strategy for those who are struggling with sinful habits– (few points are adapted from one of George Verwer’s writings which I have altered to suit the context)
- Worship the Lord & Pray everyday
- Read and Meditate the Bible every day, esp. in the morning and Memorize key Scriptures
- Exercise daily
- Maintain balanced eating habits
- Sleep well & Be active
- Have specific goals & aims for everyday
- Use leisure hours to read good books & magazine, listen to messages & praise music
- Avoid all vulnerable places & people. Do not be lonely (if you are not praying) esp. during travels.
- Seek the help of the Holy Spirit every moment and repent on a moment-by-moment basis
- Have regular fellowship & go to Church & find a mature Christian believer with whom you can share your struggles & seek prayer support & counselling
Prayer
Two hands one heart
One life to offer You
Two hands one heart
That's what I give to You
Use me today I know You can
Lord I surrender to Your plan
You made this heart
You made these hands
Take me and use me as I am
Well it's all I have to offer
And it's all I have to give
Little becomes a lot
When it's in Your hands
Take me and make me more like You
Well it may not seem like much
But with the Master's touch
I know that I'll be more like You
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