Just about clean hands?

I think it was Ford Motor Company that had the slogan, "Quality is Job # 1" a few years ago. In the late 1980's the Japanese automobile companies made superior cars. It wasn't a 'style' issue. Putting a high tech radio or a shiny paint job on a car cannot ultimately compensate for a poorly built power train. When consumers realized that foreign cars were lasting longer and needed fewer repairs, the market shifted toward Japanese products. In response to loss of sales, American car makers renewed their emphasis on quality. Within a few years they were building cars that were the equal of Toyota and Honda, though the reputation of foreign cars having a higher quality persists even today. The lesson was that nothing substitutes for real quality!

Living in a way that pleases and honors our God is "Job #1" for us! Most Believers affirm the importance of living a holy life. But, do we actually produce, or are we content with just putting on a good show? Are we content to put a superficial religion over a heart full of pride, selfishness, or greed? Do we think that we have pleased God just because we show up in church, or keep a Bible on the coffee table, or avoid the really 'big' sins?

Jesus saw misplaced emphasis on external religion among the Pharisees. They made sure to keep the rituals of their religion, carefully washing their hands and observing the minute points of the Law, but missed the point of a quality relationship with God. Here's what Jesus said about that. "Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’" Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" . . . Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’" (Matthew 15:10-20, NIV)

Don't miss the point! Jesus wasn't against washing hands before dinner! But He reminded them and us that we must not confuse being sanitary with being holy. A well-scrubbed body, a carefully screened vocabulary, or well rehearsed socially acceptable manners can conceal a filthy heart and it is the dirt in one's heart that concerns the Lord much more than the germs on one's hands. We are so quickly turned away from a genuine pursuit of knowing and loving God into a superficial religion. Giving the Holy Spirit access to our inner thoughts and attitudes and inviting God to put us through His school of faith that makes us like Christ are hard, costly, and painful choices.

It is much easier just to 'wash our hands' and consider the work of holiness accomplished.

Are you a quality Christian, one who really loves God, who has surrendered every part of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ? He will work deeply and persistently to transform those who love Him and who walk obediently with Him day by day. And, the best thing is this: A beautiful holiness will emerge that is authentic and heart-deep! Never settle for a Christianity that is just about clean hands. Seek a pure heart.

Here's a prayer from the Word. Let it shape your prayer today.
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. ... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. .... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." (Psalm 51:1-2, 10, 12-13, NIV)
Amen.