As we look at step four today in becoming "getters" of Gods' grace, we will be focusing on the second sentence of James 4:8 which says:
"Cleanse your hands, ye sinners..."
The first thought that came to my mind as I read this, is that very often we need to be reminded that we are sinners! When people start to leave the Lord out of their lives, living independently of Him and His Word, we can actually forget that we are sinners. We exist as if we were the center of the universe – as if we were God. A person in this kind of spiritual condition is not likely to feel a need for God's grace because they have deceived themselves into thinking they are faultless. However, SINNERS need grace! Lost ones AND saved ones – just different kinds of grace. Are you uncomfortable with that Bible term being applied to YOU? Are you inclined to believe that you have no guilt? I hope not! If you overlook the fact that you are a sinner, you will overlook how badly you need God's grace…
1 John 1:8 (KJV)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
1 John 1:10 (KJV)
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is
not in us.
In our last devotion, we looked at the importance of drawing nigh to God and the danger in avoiding Him. Those that faithfully draw nigh to God clearly comprehend they are sinners and will begin to notice those areas of their lives that are dirty with sin. It is one of the first things to occur after salvation. As we read the Bible and put God’s Word into our hearts and minds on a daily basis, our eyes are open to certain behavior we never defined as sin before. We finally realize that we've been living with the pigs in the mud before we met the Lord and we're dirty! Hence, we learn it's time to get cleaned up…
2 Cor. 7:1 (KJV)
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the
fear of God.
What areas of our lives are we talking about? Those outward areas represented by the word "hands" as used in our main text. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners...” In other words, purify those doings that man can see with his human eye. What kind of a testimony would it be for God to allow men to observe Him bless a sinful life with His grace?? What motivation would there be for other men to turn from their sin if they knew God would bless them anyway, regardless of the condition of their lives? Ladies, God will not give grace to a person who is willfully living a sinful life! Nor will He give His grace to someone who makes it not a practice to acknowledge their own faults. However, when we deal properly with the sin in our life that keeps God at a distance, then the Lord draws near to us. How do we do this? By simply confessing and forsaking our sins and asking for His cleansing as 1 John 1:9 tells us to:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Our lives should be a testimony to the fact that God gives grace and more grace only to those who live right! So Christian woman, what kinds of actions are being observed in your life today? Any sinful ones? Do you need to do some cleaning up? Lost sinners need their hearts washed, but saved sinners need their hands washed and will gladly go to the water! Why not replace the view you have been giving others of your sin and replace it with the view of God's grace in your life instead? It is a much better picture and it will draw people to the Lord…
John 12:32 (KJV)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Ladies, that drawing comes only through living a separated, CLEAN life. How long do you go before you take a shower? Hopefully most of us are washing daily!! Well, spiritual cleansing needs to be as important to us as taking a shower and washing our bodies! I wonder what church would smell like if we only washed our bodies as often as we washed our spirits???
Isaiah 1:16 (KJV)
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before
mine eyes; cease to do evil.
Today, if you are serious about becoming a "getter" of God's grace, you are going to have to be sure that you cleanse your hands, ye sinner! Wash you and make you clean so the Lord can bless you with grace to continue on in your walk with Him. If we've truly been born again, there should be a desire to live a clean life - the dirt of sin should no longer hold our attraction! What we need to do is seriously apply some Divine Detergent to our sin stains…
Psalm 119:9 (KJV)
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word.
Are you softsoaping God? "Duz" you just "Dreft" along with the "Tide"? Well now is the time for "All" to "Cheer" up! If you want real "Joy" the "Trend" is to "Breeze" to church regularly on Sunday mornings. Where our Lord reigns, the "Dove" of peace will never need to send out an "S.O.S." Don't trust in "Lux", good or bad. Shall we "Dial" you and remind you of those "Ivory" palaces up yonder? Repentance will add to your "Life-buoy"! So why not be faithful and "Wisk" yourselves out of bed on Sunday mornings, dress up "Spic & Span" and "Dash" like a "Comet" to God's house of prayer! Don't forget to wash with God at the "Dawn" of every day... Your life will then become full of real "Zest" for the Lord! You have everything to "Gain" by cleaning up your life - namely, GRACE!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
