Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.32.1-2.ESV
We all have had dirty hands before. Did we just leave them dirty, or did we wash them until they were clean? Did we just run some water over them but not scrub them clean? Or did we diligently wash them with soap and water, getting all of the filth and grime off of them, even from underneath or fingernails, because we know that the filth and germs are not good for us?
Isn’t it the same with our hearts, our Spirit, our soul? Isn’t it clear to us that it needs to be washed by the blood of the Lamb, by our faith and belief and following in Christ’s footsteps, turning away from the filth and enticements and ways of this world to walk in a new way, bearing the fruit of His Holy Spirit?
So we must encourage one another, to not play around with empty religious practice by just running our flesh under the water but never really intending our lives to be delivered, surrendered, washed clean – but to instead seek that fully surrendered, born again life that is renewed daily by the redeeming power of the blood, by the strength of Christ who lives in us, by the renewing of our minds as we seek God’s will for our lives.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord ?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Psalm 24:3-6 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.24.3-6.ESV
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:1-3 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.12.1-3.NKJV
Harold J. Ballinger 