Friday; August 9

Have you ever heard the religious analogy that describes Christians as the “hands and feet of Christ”?  Have you ever thought about where that comes from?  The other day I was doing some researching and found a poem attributed to Teresa of Avila that includes the words, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours ... Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world ...”.  I realize that there is a lot literary license taken in this work but it seems to make sense.  Jesus showed us how He expected us to live through His life on earth, then left His work up to us.  We are one of the major ways that today’s society can get to know Jesus. 
Centuries before Teresa penned her poem, the Apostle Paul provided us with another example of how believers can make a difference, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (II Corinthians 5:20).  Whether as “hands and feet” or as “ambassadors” the point is that we are a conduit through which the world can get to know the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Sure, it is possible to read the story of Jesus in the Bible, but for many people the life of a compassionate, caring Christian is the avenue through which they will come to know Jesus.
Are we spreading the good news with our lives?  No, our good deeds are no substitute for scriptural teaching, but they just might be what opens the door for us to preach the gospel.
Think About It!

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