THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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If all the people who sleep in church were laid end to end....
They'd probably be more comfortable.
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Ps 24:3-4
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
KJV
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What a great joy it shall be for sinners to receive "the hill of the Lord!" What a wondrous act of grace it is that God would count us as "clean" and "pure!"
"Clean hands" are the sign of outward holiness. The Pharisees had clean hands, but their hearts were deceitful, and Jesus reproved them strongly. Are there those who have such a hold upon "justification by faith" that they have no works of faith? Are there those that only have works which seek to grant them a name or position? Do they lift up their soul "unto vanity?" Are there those who have "sworn deceitfully" and have no works to show their faith?
"A pure heart" is the sign of inward holiness. Out of a pure heart genuine worship of Christ will include such things as Bible study, prayer, attendance, giving and ministry to the lost and needy. Genuine Christianity is "heart-work." Faith works on the inside of a believer and brings mission and ministry mindedness to the outside.
The Pharisees had an outward appearance of holiness, but inside Jesus said they were "full of dead men's bones!" In an opposite tone, the disciples ate with "unwashed hands," but they followed Jesus in obedience.
The apostle James said, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) Clean hands, which proclaim righteousness, are DEAD if they are not accompanied by a pure heart which produces works of righteousness.
Let us show clean hands, and keep unspotted that new life which Christ has given us.
And let us also produce good works out of a pure heart in love and obedience to Him.
Love ya,
Bruce