Clean Hands

We recently were with a group of people while a nasty, very contagious virus was making the rounds. There were reminders everywhere to wash hands and use hand sanitizers. In the beginning I think many of us did not pay much attention to the signs because we didn’t know the reason for them. After people in our group became ill we were told the reason for the signs and we all became much more diligent to wash our hands.

We started thinking then about how God wants us to have clean hands and a pure heart. We should be checking our hearts regularly to make sure they are clean, just like we are washing our hands throughout the day to protect us from becoming ill.

We were all so much more conscientious to have clean hands when we knew the reason. God gives us many commands in his Word and frequently we may not know the reason, but if we know the character of God we will know that He has the best for us in mind and that there’s a reason for every command He’s given. When we have a pure heart and have not given any place to an idol in our lives we prepare ourselve to receive blessing from the Lord. Now, as I wash my hands, I want to remind myself to check my heart before God, that I would be clean before him and may receive His blessing.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the reminder to be clean before You. Please purify my heart. Forgive me for the times when I have let something else take Your place in my heart. I want to put You first so that I may be in Your presence. Help me follow Your commands and trust You even when I don’t know the reason for the command, and help me to know You more. Amen.