Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. Psalm 24:3-4
The first thing required to go to a higher level in your relationship with God, the passage says, is “clean hands and a pure heart who does not trust in idols or swear by a false god.” We are ascending there and we are going to be there, in a holy place where there is a holy God.
Jesus made it clear to us when speaking to the Pharisees. One can be clean on the outside, but the inside is a whole different issue. 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 went right past that to inward cleanliness. A relationship with God is no different than a relationship with your wife or any good friend that you have. Honesty is the essential. God knows everything about us anyway, so all He is asking is to be real with Him.
Father, you love me so much, may I not ruin what you have given me with dishonesty.