LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS
Cecil Hook

With little notice we usually pass over Paul’s words: “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands (1 Tim. 2:8). Is the uplifting of hands in prayer a required ritual of acceptable worship?

The concept of raising hands to God accommodates man’s thought that God is localized somewhere in the sky. Such accommodative language is common in the Scriptures.

What is the purpose and meaning of lifting up holy hands? Is there some context that can help us to understand?

Paul seems to be alluding to the heave offerings and votive offering required of the Jews (Dt. 12:6,11,17; Num. 15:19). A votive offering is sacrificial or performed in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion. It expresses a vow, a wish, or a desire.

Holy hands were those of the priest who was consecrated to make such offerings. He was dedicated exclusively (Dt. 18). Now, we are priests individually, consecrated that we may offer sacrifices lifted toward God with holy hands. Our offerings are expressions of thanksgiving, devotion, vows, and prayers.

The uplifted hands are not empty. They present the heave offering. In context, Paul urges women to beautify themselves, not with finery, “but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion.” These are the hands that have comforted the sick and aged, have lifted the downtrodden, have fed the hungry, and have written checks to alleviate human need. Such things are our heave offerings, our “thank you’s” to the Lord.

To say that the holy hands must not be empty is not to indicate that prayers are answered in reward to quota performance. It means that the prayers rise from hearts which demonsrate gratitude and devotion. It is the worship of the heart that is raised rather than the literal hands. Prayer is accompanied by the offering of a dedicated life.

If you wish to extend your hands upward while praying or praising, that is acceptable unless you do it out of confidence in a ritual or to impress others. If you raise your hands when praying with others but not in private prayer, it may be proper to question whether it is a street corner gesture to be seen of others.

When your life is presented to God in total dedication, your specific “thank you” offerings are your uplifted hands.

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Allergies of a Different Kind

Who isn’t allergic to something? Allergies are annoying but usually are not life-threatening. What causes one person to wheeze and sneeze and snort and scratch may not bother the next person. For that reason a person should not try to forbid everything that bothers him.

We have spiritual allergies also. What makes one person uncomfortable may be enjoyed in good conscience by other persons. We have different scruples, opinions, hangups, conditioning, and peeves. These should not be life-threatening. But we hear a lot of grumbling and hollering and raving and condemning by people who want to outlaw everything that bothers them. That is bigotry and self-centeredness.

We cannot readily cure all of our allergies, but we can keep ourselves noninvolved with the things that bother us and let others take care of their own situations. We should not become allergic to the fact that others do not suffer from our own allergies.

I can solve my difficulty with cedar pollen by moving to an area where there are no cedars. My irritation caused by citric acids does not bother me ifI eat no citrus fruits. I can remedy my allergy to perfumes by keeping away from women!

Concentration on one’s irritations can almost drive a person out of his mind. If my wife were drowning in the river, however, I would forget the itchy welts caused by the mosquitos and the threat of poison ivy along the bank.

What we need is more important things to demand our attention.

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New Thoughts

Some minds are like a spring trap; Once sprung, that's all they'll hold. Some minds are like a museum place, Still holding on to what is old. Some minds are like a ship in storm, By old and new tossed back and forth. Let mine be like a treasure vault, Accepting all that has true worth.

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We are saved by faith but not by the merit of faith. Jesus is the one who saves. It is not of our works. Often people who disdain the idea of works salvation really substitute faith for works. By stressing the intensity of faith that is thought to qualify one for grace, they are actually substituting meritorious faith for meritorious works! One of these does not make a person feel more secure than the other. Both are based upon human achievement. —Cecil Hook, 1350 Huisache. New Braunfels. TX. 78130