Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (Psalm 24:3-4)

What does one need to do to ascend to a higher level in your relationship with God?  Our passage tells us we need clean hands and a pure heart and we are not to trust in idols and swear by a false god.  Because we are going to a holy place wherein dwells a Holy God.  

Jesus made it clear to us, when speaking to the Pharisees, that one can be clean on the outside but the inside is a whole different issue. (See Matthew 23:25-26)  To be clean with a pure and holy God you also must be clean and pure on the inside. In fact, Jesus made an issue of being outwardly religious, holier than thou.  He then went right past that to inward cleanliness.  A relationship with God is no different than a relationship with your wife or any of you good friends. Honesty is essential.  

As a child of God it is extremely important that we remember that we are called into holiness, this means that we are separated from the ways and standards of this life, and called to adhere to the ways and standards of our Heavenly Father. To be holy means that you are sanctified.  God wants to take you to greater heights, however, He needs you to stop allowing filth to corrupt your life.  God already knows everything about us, so all He is asking is that we be real with Him.  But to do that we are told in 1 John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

How clean is your heart? 

Jesus is looking for a place to reside and He will not stay in a place that is not clean.  Is your heart clean, all of it, every room?  If not then Christ will not dwell there.  Allow me to close from the book of Psalm 51:2-3, 10-12 with this prayer:

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

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