Imagine this scenario:
It’s dinnertime and the family is called to the table. The kids have been outside playing in the sandbox, and dirty. They are starved. They bolt into the house, sit down at the table and start to fill their plates while mom is still getting things on the table. She notices they have not washed their hands, and sends them to go wash them immediately. Begrudgingly they do, but return with grumpy attitudes because they manage to get in a fight while washing their hands.
Rewind. Take two. It’s dinnertime, and the family is called to the table. The kids have been playing outside in the sandbox. They are dirty and starved. They bolt into the house and remember to wash their hands before going to the table. They wait for everyone. The meal begins without any squabbles.
As you consider approaching the Holy God, which scenario can you identify with? The children ignoring their dirty hands and rushing to the table, of the children willingly washing their hands before the meal? It is better for us to approach our heavenly Father with the attitude of knowing we have dirty hands (sin in our heart) and seek His cleansing. While the Lord lovingly accepts us as we are, our part is to continually seek His forgiveness to gain a pure heart.
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2 He has mercy on us when we have a contrite heart. He ‘un-sins’ us so we can stand in His presence.
Psalm 24: 3-4 reads “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.”
