Head, Heart, & Hands

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God. – 1 Peter 1:11-21

Today I attended a seminar on emotional and spiritual health in times of challenge like these days of the Coronavirus epidemic. We learned about a daily check-in that has to do with our heads, hearts, and hands. We should monitor what we are thinking about, what we’re taking into our minds, and cogitating on. Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

That’s what Peter speaks of when he says, “Have your minds ready for action.” But that’s not all. We must also check our hearts. To what have we tied our hearts? What occupies our hearts’ yearnings? What do we yearn for? Check it out: “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also,” says Jesus (Matthew 6:21).

And what about your hands? How are you using them to serve others, to help people in need, to encourage people who are down, to bless those in need? Can you run an errand? Can you offer financial help? We may not be able to hold someone’s hands safely during these days. But we can find many ways to use our hands to bless others.

Spending our days in reverence for God involves our heart, hands, and head. A daily check-in of these three will help us maintain a healthy life spiritually and emotionally.