Did You Wash Your Hands?

SCRIPTURE
(Mark 7:5 & 15) "And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, 'Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?'. . . there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man."


OBSERVATION
Tradition often becomes the norm by which people form their convictions. For many, during the time of Christ, external cleanliness was a sign of godliness. Jesus took the opportunity to challenge their shallow beliefs, and focused on the importance of the state of one's heart. A lot of people with clean hands will spend eternity seperated from a Holy God.


APPLICATION
How often today do we put a great emphasis on doing good things. Many people are convinced that if they lead a good life, helping others, they will receive God's favor and "go to heaven to be with Him." Good deeds and clean hands still won't gain you entrance into heaven. The Psalmist writes, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." The only soap that cleanses the heart and renews the spirit of a person is the blood of Jesus. Have you washed your heart today?

PRAYER
Father, I pray that my actions will be a reflection of my heart. Cleanse me from within and I will be able to serve You externally.