Faith BasicsSample

When I was a kid, there was an expression that went something like: "Don't make me lay hands on you!" It was meant to be threatening, and I heard it a lot when I pushed somebody's buttons one too many times (I was a bit of a, shall we say, precocious child). This is NOT the way Hebrews means it.

For the author of Hebrews, the laying on of hands is a Faith Basic that is part and parcel of the Christian life. Yesterday we said that the laying on of hands and baptism are both inaugural ceremonies. Baptism inaugurates the new believer’s presence in the church, and the laying on of hands initiates the new believer’s participation in the church.

In the rest of the New Testament, we see that the laying on of hands is always partnered with prayer.

For example, in Acts 8 we have an account about a time when many people were baptized. The Bible says that the other Christians laid their hands on the new believers and that the new believers received the Holy Spirit. God revealed Himself in a new and powerful way to these new followers at that moment! The laying on of hands, when accompanied by prayer, is one way Christians invite God to reveal Himself in new ways to other believers.

Earlier in the book of Acts we peek in at a time when the young church needed more people focused on specific ministries that Christians were lacking. Once the church selected some men to meet this need, they laid hands on them and prayed for them. This set those men apart for that specific purpose. Again we see that the laying on of hands and prayer invited God to do something unique and special.

The next time you or a fellow Christian needs a special work of God in their life, why not gather a few other Christians, lay hands on them, pray for them, and invite God to reveal Himself in a new and powerful way in their lives?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a way to participate in the lives of other believers through the laying on of hands and prayer. Please help me to be aware of good times to do this and to do it with your blessing and approval. Amen.