Sunday Devotional | Jan. 25th - KCC
“Put Your Hands Where I Can See ’Em”
A Sermon by Lead Pastor Brian R. Pittman, KCC Dover
SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:1–5 (ESV)
"1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus,[a] to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored."
Although we won’t gather in-person today due to inclement weather, the Word still gathers us. The same God who meets us in the sanctuary also meets us right where we are.
Last Sunday, we leaned into Mark 3, where Jesus encounters a man in the synagogue with a withered hand. What’s striking is that the hand didn’t look broken; it simply didn’t work the way it was supposed to. It was slowly losing function while still sitting in church.
That’s a word for many of us.
That you can be in the house of God and still be malfunctioning. Because "attendance" is not surrender. Isn’t it interesting how something can look fine on the outside and still be withering on the inside?
Jesus calls the man forward and gives a simple but risky instruction:
“Stretch out your hand.”
The miracle didn’t happen before the stretch.
The miracle happened in the stretch.
Jesus was teaching us that God doesn’t restore what we hide: He restores what we release.
In Scripture, the Hebrew word YADAH means to extend or throw out the hand. It became a word for praise because praise is surrender. It’s God saying, “Show Me with your hands what you’re trusting Me with.”
That’s why Psalm 134 says:
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.”
That’s not a suggestion; it’s an instruction. The same hands we lift in WORSHIP, are the hands God wants to restore in LIFE.
Here’s your first shout. Are you ready for this? This word doesn’t need a sanctuary. HEAR ME:
God has never required perfect hands; only SURRENDERED ones.
The same hands Moses once used to take a life, were the same hands God later raised to part a sea so an entire people could escape bondage.
The same hands of the woman with the issue of blood, hands that had been declared unclean, were the hands that reached through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' garment.
Twelve years of suffering.
Twelve years of restriction.
Twelve years of being told, Don’t touch.
But one stretch changed twelve years.
So hear me today:
God is not intimidated by your hands.
Not what they touched.
Not what they did.
Not what they failed to do.
If you’ll stretch them, He’ll redeem them.
Today, right where you are, let this be your moment of obedience:
If it’s been withering — lift it
If it’s been hidden — lift it
If it’s been dysfunctional — lift it
If it’s been disconnected — lift it
If it’s tired — lift it
Because God doesn’t heal what we hide. He heals what we stretch.
So even at home… even in delay… even in disruption… even in pain… even in loss and sickness and even in confusion --
Put your hands where He can see ’em.
As we close, we want to thank every member and partner who continues to give faithfully. Your generosity allows us to serve, teach, care, and cover even when weather interrupts our gathering. If you’re able, we invite you to give today as an act of worship. trust and obedience to God.
You can give securely at:
• Online: GIVE HERE
• Text-to-Give: Text the word "GIVE" to 877-525-4406
• Cash App: $KINGDOMCULTURELIFE
Because the same hands stretched in surrender are the hands God uses for provision.
I love you. Stay safe. I'll see you soon.
Grace and peace,
PB
