Clean Hands

Today’s Verse:

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. ~Job 17:9

---

Every mother is good at telling her children, “Go wash your hands,” before touching their faces and before eating a meal. Our hands come into contact with a lot of germs that can spread very easily. Clean hands are an essential part of good hygiene and good health. Clean hands are also a beautiful picture of the importance of serving God with purity of heart and motive.

We see the priority.

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4). Clean hands are an absolute criterion and priority to serving God. God demands that we approach Him in service and worship with clean hands. In Haggai 2:11-14, God condemned the priests for serving Him with hands that came in contact with things that were defiling. Dirty hands defile the servant and make his service unacceptable to the Lord. Dirty hands prevent the servant from having God’s approval and power for service. Dirty hands indicate that we have a low view of the service of the Lord, and that we are careless about how little we value serving Him. Washing our hands, or getting our hearts and lives clean before serving God, is an absolute priority.

We see the practice.

In the service of the Tabernacle, there was a golden laver filled with water where every priest had to wash his hands and feet. Prior to burning incense, cleaning the altar, or any other work, the priest had to approach the laver first and wash. We must come to God for a cleansing of all sins of the flesh and spirit. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). James 4:7 tells us, “Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purify your hearts ye doubleminded.” First, it should be a daily practice. Second, it should be a thorough practice. Third, it should be a sobering practice. Sometimes, our hands can become very dirty with grease and dirt. We have to wash our hands and underneath our fingernails until all the dirt is removed. The same can be said about the cleansing of our lives from sin. God’s Word purifies us. Jesus said, “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Don’t be careless about having clean hands.

We see the privilege.

“He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” With clean hands, we have increased power through God. I believe that we are stronger in temptation. After Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days, Satan unleashed a vicious attack to try to move Jesus to sin. Jesus powerfully overcame Satan through the Word of God. I believe that we become stronger in our praying. Clean hands make for the openness of answered prayers. Husbands and wives especially must make sure that their prayers are not hindered due to the defilement of unresolved marital conflict and disharmony. Clean hands make for the uninterrupted work of God’s power in our lives. More souls can be saved through soulwinnng. More people are influenced by God’s grace at work through us. With clean hands, our vision for God’s will and work becomes clearer. With clean hands, God entrusts more responsibilities to us. Just as a very strong immune system makes us very healthy and able to do more, a clean and pure life qualifies us for greater service for God.

Make sure your hands are clean before you serve the Lord. Dirty hands defile us and those we have contact with. Clean hands make us stronger and stronger!

Have a cleansed God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 40-45

#Cleansing #Job #Purity #Strength