Hands
that set the stars in space,
That
guide the orbits in their place,
Hands
that formed from dust the man
To follow in God’s glorious plan.
Hands
that wrote His law in stone,
That
chose me for His very own:
Hands
that came to earth to give
A
perfect life that man might live;
Hands
that broke the living bread,
Healed
the sick, and raised the dead.
Hands
that would not count the cost
It
took to seek and save the lost--
Yet
those loving hands I see
Nailed
on the cross for you and me!
But,
my face with horror pales
To
see the hands that drove the nails:
Hands
that lack in love and skill,
Hands
that serve a selfish will
At
expense of others’ joy.
Hands
that hurt and oft’ destroy,
Hands
that mar God’s master plan
And
spoil the work which He began;
Hands
that strive for wealth and gain
Though
it means another’s pain;
Hands
that sold my Savior dear
To
the mob that scoff and sneer.
They
crucified my Lord, divine--
Who
can cleanse these hands of mine?
While
in agony I wait
To
hear pronounced my awful fate--
Through my tear-dimmed eyes I see
Reaching
out to even me,
With
love too strong to let me go,
Those
hands that I mistreated so.
Then
I hear my Savior say:
“Look
to Me and live today!
“I
will cleanse your bloodstained hands,
Pay
the price the law demands.
Though
your hands were once defiled,
I
forgive you, my dear child.
My
peace to you I will restore;
Walk
with Me and sin no more.”
Jennita
Schmidt, May 11, 2011
