Holy Hands

At church this Sunday we sang the words, "We raise up holy hands to praise the Holy One, who was, and is, and is to come."  As hands rose throughout the congregation, my heart filled with joy.  The act of raising holy hands is one of faith, for not one person can claim personal perfection.  Our holiness is not our own, but the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.  David was right when he wrote in Psalm 24:3-6:  "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. ⁵ He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."  There is no man who can claim sinless perfection but One:  Jesus Christ.  It is by His grace we lift hands now made holy, washed from sin in the pure blood of the Lamb by faith.

Raising hands during prayer and worship is not intended to draw attention to self, but to the Holy One who has forgiven and redeemed us from sin.  It is an interesting fact the scriptures always speak of raising hands - it is never singular but plural.  To me raising both hands speaks of full surrender.  It is an act of faith to raise both hands in adoration and service to the God who fashioned them and cleaned them.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:8, "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."  Inward holiness ought to be revealed in outward piety and obedience to God, living in the way that fully pleases Him.  This too is only accomplished through His grace and a willing heart in submission to Him.

Has your heart been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ?  Then lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting, having cleansed your hands from idolatry and deceit.  From Christ we have received redemption and cleansing, and now offer up praise to the One in whom we live, breathe, and have our being!