Devotion: Letting The Hands Of Jesus Shape Our Lives

An auction of used items was being held. Among them was an old, scratched guitar. When the auctioneer lifted it up and offered it to the audience, no one bid anything for it. The room remained silent.

Just then, a famous guitar player from the area came to the front. He was the owner of the guitar. He stepped forward, took it in his hands, blew off the dust and tuned it. After doing this, he performed a beautiful music piece on that dented guitar, leaving the audience elated, and letting them see the guitar was a great instrument if played in such a masterful way. When he was done, the audience gave him a standing ovation.

So the auctioneer tried again. He presented the old, worn guitar to the audience. This time one of the participants offered a lot of money for it, and it sold for a very good price.

Many times in the course of our lives, we think we know everything about a given situation. Of course, with our limited and imperfect knowledge that's not the case. As a consequence, our arrogance often leads us to bad decision-making and faulty conclusions. In humility, we must recognize we need God and, by the power of His Spirit, yield our lives to His direction.

Today's Scripture reminds us that God -- and God alone -- is in total control. Through His infinite love and the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, He molds and shapes the lives of His children. He gives us the strength necessary to serve Him obediently, even as we are renewed daily to accomplish positive changes in our lives and improve our personal relationships.

Through His grace and forgiveness, Jesus gives us the only peace we need, which turns us into helpful people for ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let the hands of Your beloved Son, Jesus, touch our lives and fill us with His beautiful blessings and love. Amen.

Biography of Author: Alexander Jesus Perez Leon, the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries' Venezuelan office, wrote today's devotion. Established in 1953 in Caracas, LHM-Venezuela or Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (CPTLN) meaning "Christ for All Nations," operates a radio and print ministry addressing issues like anxiety, sex, drugs, depression, occultism, and family relations. These programs are broadcast to more than 30 million people over 40 stations in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Cuba.

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