Get Your Hands Dirty, but Keep Your Heart Pure

Daily Reading: John 18

Scripture Focus: They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. (John 18.28)

Devotional Thought: Intent on executing Jesus, the Jewish leaders had a problem.  They needed the governor's approval, but going into his home would render them unfit to worship God.  Passover – their greatest religious feast of the year - was in full swing!  They couldn't miss that.  How ironic that they were so careful about ceremonial uncleanness, yet they had allowed their hearts to be polluted with murderous rage.

We need to be careful ourselves in this regard, don’t we?  We want to be able to have our religious activities move forward undisturbed… no distractions at church, no unfamiliar songs or ceremonies, no unclean people praying at the same altar…  So we go to great lengths to insure that our ceremonies are “clean” and “free from contaminants.”  We forget that Jesus allowed himself to be interrupted by children; that he changed all the religious observations of the day; that he welcomed immoral people into his company, even allowing them to touch him in extravagant worship!  He was not concerned with ceremonial uncleanness, but rather with the purity of our hearts.

How long since you have welcomed a sinner into your fellowship?  How long since you have allowed the spiritually awkward to be free to worship in your midst?  How long since you have challenged your spiritual sensitivities by participating in – not just tolerating – new forms and new songs in worship?  We are so worried that we won’t be able to “eat the Passover”, that we miss the presence of the Lamb of God himself!  Open your eyes and hearts and arms to Christ’s presence in the poor, the downcast, the addicted, the derelict, the unruly and the neophyte.  Get your hands dirty and keep your heart pure.

Prayer: "Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Amen. (Psalm 139.23-24)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 37.34-40

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.