My Hands and Feet by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:13)

Yesterday we considered our total consecration to God using the first verse of the sweet hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be.” Today we look at verse two.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

This verse considers the use of our hands and feet, and by implication our entire bodies. They can be used in ways that grieve God, but He created them and their proper function is to glorify Him. God desires that we employ our physical abilities to worship Him and serve others, not to please ourselves or engage in sin. He declares, “I will that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8). “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).

Conversely, “these six things doth the LORD hate . . . A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief” (Proverbs 6:16-18). A fruitful follower of Christ will avoid these things.

He has promised not to let us wander aimlessly. He gives us protection as we go, for “he maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places” (Psalm 18:33). We also have His “roadmap”: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). How can we fail? JDM