February 21 – An Honest Handshake

Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. "Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?" He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; he who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; he will dwell on the heights, his refuge will be the impregnable rock; his bread will be given him, his water will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will behold a far-distant land. Isaiah 33:14-17  

This scripture describes a person who is living right before God (righteous), honest and his handshake shows his honesty. If a person has a wad of money for a bribe in his hand, then he can’t openly shake hands with another person. No bribe was necessary for the honest fellow. 

Training Tip – Teach your kids that the reason for handshake was originally to show a gesture of peace and that neither person held a weapon. Handshakes are important in sports for showing good sportsmanship, in greeting friends, and in business. Show your children the value of a firm handshake. Give them a fishy, limp handshake, then an overly enthusiastic hard gripping handshake, and lastly a nice firm handshake. Encourage them to always give a nice firm handshake and to look people in the eye as they shake their hand. 

Lord – Help us to always reject unjust gain or bribes and to show our honesty in our actions, rejecting evil for we want to see You—the King in all Your beauty.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.