By Evangelist John BJ Hall
As a child in Sunday School we would sing a song the second verse of which says, “Oh be careful little hands, what you do. Oh be careful little hands, what you do. For the Father up above is looking down in tender love. Oh be careful little hands what you do.”
Jesus said in Mark 9:43-48 (NASB) "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44 [ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] 45 "And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, 46 [ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] 47 "And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.”
What the little Sunday School song and this passage of scripture are saying is that we should cut ourselves off from sources of temptation. Jesus was talking about spiritual surgery, not physical.
What we do (vs 43), where we go (vs 45) and what we see (vs 47) tells a lot about our character. If we do things that dishonor God or harm the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) harm our fellowship with the Father.
John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) but if we continue to do the things we confessed, our confession is void. You cannot pray “Lord, forgive me for that which I am about to do” and be taken seriously by the Lord.
This is why Jesus said, “Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB77) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 " Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'” (Matthew 7:21-23)
So we must confess and repent (turn away) from our sins. This is what it means to be careful little hands what you do.
The Joy Of Revival
To see a child as he comes to Christ,
Is a Christian’s greatest joy in life.
Yes, a child has many years to live,
For the One Who His own life did give.
Yet again I see another joy,
As an old man comes as though a boy,
And confesses of a life of sin,
So that a new life he can begin.
Now another joy comes clear to me,
As a Christian bows upon the knee,
And rededicates his heart and life,
To bring an end to a way of strife.
Now this is what true revival is,
When we place our feeble hands in His.
And God speaks unto a weary soul,
Who then gives to God his life control.
Won’t you turn now from life's silly toys,
And join in all God’s wonderful joys?
Then you can feel the joy I have known,
As Jesus’ love to our world is shown.
© 1992 by Passage Ministries. All rights reserved.
For permission to use this poem, contact Passages Ministries.