CLEAN HANDS

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?

Or who shall stand in His holy place?

He that has clean hands, and a pure heart.”

Psalm 24:3-4

“He that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger,” we read in Job 17:9. While “clean hands” would be a part of being “righteous,” there are some specific points to consider with this qualification. To be clean is to be free from whatever sullies or defiles, no interior flaws. Why do we say “no interior flaws?” Because Jesus made it very clear, it is not the outside of the cup, but the inside that needs to be clean, and then it follows that it is also easier to keep the outside clean. For “not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man – for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:11, 19-20). Therefore, to be clean requires that the inner condition be pure and clean, and then the acts that follow will be clean also.

Jesus said, “for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me…” (John 14:30). When there is nothing within that the enemy can lay claim to, this is purity indeed. This is our challenge, our vision, and to this end we understand that God has purposed our daily travail and processing. We might say, in the measure we have been cleansed and are being purified, we are going from strength to strength.

Recognizing that it is a daily work of God within, what is it that is doing the cleansing work in us? Jesus said, “Now are you clean through THE WORD which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). Paul wrote, “that He might sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water by THE WORD.” – Ephesians 5:26

James also links the hands and heart together when he admonishes, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands… and purify your hearts” (James 4:8). Thus, we daily overcome!

From Daily Overcoming