Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

But we Christians have no veil over our faces, we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.¹

Following World War II some German students volunteered to help rebuild a cathedral in England, one that had been badly damaged by the Luftwaffe bombings. As the work progressed, they were not sure how to best restore a large statue of Jesus with arms outstretched and bearing the familiar inscription, "Come unto me."

They were able to repair all the damage to the statue except for Christ's hands which had been completely destroyed. Should they even attempt to rebuild these?

Finally, the workers reached a decision that still stands today. They decided to leave the hands off and changed the inscription to read: "Christ has no hands but ours."

While Christ paid the price of and purchased our salvation on the cross with his life, he left the "hands on" work of building his kingdom in our hands. For some, we are the only ones that will be an example of Jesus to them. A poster on the office wall at Wheaton College says it well:

    "The living truth is what I long to see,
    I cannot live on what used to be,
    So close your Bible and show me how
    The Christ you talk about is living now."

Suggested prayer: Dear God, please use me to be your hands to whomever you bring in to my life today. May my example reflect Your love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness, and lead someone to You. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in the name of Jesus I pray, amen. 

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)(NLT).

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