For the past couple of days, we’ve looked at two elements of the ancient Jewish cleansing rite called Mikveh, which was the act of physically washing the body in preparation for worship. So far, we’ve talked about having a clean mind and a clean heart. Today, I want to look at the third part of the ritual — cleansing the hands. In the wake of COVID-19, I don’t think there are any of us who have not done a lot of hand washing recently, so we are certainly familiar with the importance of the physical act. However, spiritually speaking, our hands are associated with our deeds and actions; in short, they symbolize what we do. As those made in the image of our Creator, we have God-given authority to take action and the freedom to decide how we will do it. That means we can either engage in activities that bring light and hope to the world or that tear down and cause harm to others. Unfortunately, doing the latter is often easier than walking the narrow road required by the former. However, while taking the path of least resistance may be the most expedient for our personal gain, in the long run, it erodes our peace and does damage to the witness of our Savior. Contrary to the fruitless deeds of darkness, the actions carried out by clean hands are those that bridge gaps, give voice to the voiceless, help the oppressed, bring encouragement to the discouraged, and pour out lovingkindness whenever and wherever there is a need.

My friend, you have clean hands! As one who walks with Jesus, you are forgiven and set free from the mistakes of your past. He has taken your guilt and shame, made you whole, and set you on a new course as an ambassador for His Kingdom. You have a heart that is sensitive to the leading of His Spirit and hands that daily bring His goodness, righteousness, and justice to the world through loving action. You are an encourager of hurting hearts, and you bless, give, and offer healing to others by responding practically and tangibly to His Word. Because you have been changed from the inside, you eagerly look for ways to impact the lives of people for the better, and you don’t hesitate to turn your faith into action, even if it’s uncomfortable, while implicitly trusting God with the outcome.