As we come to the end of the time period known as 2015 we will notice reviews of the year. On a personal level we will replay many of the scenes that occurred during this season of our lives. Do you have clean hands? We will revisit victories and challenges that we have yet to overcome. There are some points that will cause us to reexamine emotions. Hurts, misspoken words, off hand comments, blunders, and poor decisions are all there amongst the moments of tenderness, innovative ideas, loving acts of kindness and pure heartfelt obedience to God. It is all there.

As you think of the last 360 or so days it is human nature to dwell on those things that did not go well. Those people that hurt you may seem to leap to the forefront of your mind. Keeping focused on the positive and the goodness of God is not always a struggle, yet we are to continue the process of renewing our minds. Aligning our thinking with that of our heavenly Father.

Especially when you have had a particularly challenging season in your life, it may be more difficult to look on the bright side and remember the goodness of God. When we find ourselves in those places where we have been treated unfairly  or when we think we did no wrong, we sometimes get stuck in the whys. Why did that happen to me? Why did they do that to me? What did I do to deserve this? How did I get here? In these situations, do you have clean hands?

How about when you have been blessed beyond measure, more than you can ask or think, do you ask: Why me? I don’t deserve to be treated so well, why was I blessed with this? In these situations, do you have clean hands?

Clean Hands

The “clean hands doctrine” relates to legal proceedings. It has to do with one person accusing another of doing something. The accuser can pretty much lose their case if they have done something wrong regarding the matter being considered. So if the accuser acted improperly in connection to the process in question their claims would lose because of their lack of clean hands.

The Bible tells us that we have an advocate. In 1 John 2:1 and 2 we find: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (KJV)

In those times when we sin we have and advocate. That advocate is righteous. Whether we have clean hands or not He is there to stand beside us. He is the one that will plead our case. It does not matter with this advocate if we have clean hands in the matter. It could be that our hands are dirty. Truthfully we all have missed the mark.

Yet the advocate, Jesus the Christ is the one who made atonement for our sins. Our sins were covered and remitted by Jesus. The advocate, in effect caused us and continually causes us to have clean hands. He came into the world to save sinners. Therefore, we are cleared by grace of our sins. They are wiped away by our advocate. We have the ability to receive that free gift.

Likewise, the sinners that have sinned against you can be cleared by grace through the advocate too. We and those that have harmed us are able to receive atonement by the advocate. Reminder, those whom have harmed us by sinning are offered the advocate.  God’s grace is available to them. God offers to clean their hands. We then, being made in His image can move beyond their acts of sin.

Carry the image of clean hands for yourself and those that have sinned against you into 2016. Let us all go with the clean hands of the justice of God.

Think on These

As you think over the ups and downs of 2015 and look forward to what 2016 will bring I implore you, as our brother the Apostle Paul did in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (KJV)

Intentionally, search the word to know the will of God. Learn how you can have clean hands. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. Know His peace, while living in this world filled with strife, hate, injustice and lawlessness.

Take Inventory and Take Action! Enter into 2016 focused on clean hands!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”