Keep Your Own Hands Clean
Keep your own hands clean. (I Timothy 5:22 NEB)
I Tim. 5:21-22 and 1:18-19; Deut. 4:9 and 23:9; Ps. 24:3-4, Pr. 4:23; James 1:27; I Jn. 5:21
What Is God Saying?
Timothy was the first second-generation Christian in the New Testament. He was greatly loved and trusted by Paul. He was not a person who would throw his weight around, but as a leader of leaders in the Church, he needed to develop a firmness equal to his loving nature. There is a time and a place when love must be firm as well as gentle. The truth must be spoken in love (Eph 4:19) but love must also be spoken in truth. The letter of Paul to Timothy was written to put a foundation under Timothy's calling. It speaks of right beliefs or sound doctrine because false teachers then, as now, were creating an undertow of different doctrines (14) that caused many to question the power and the truth of the simple Gospel. So Timothy is encouraged to do two things, 1) hold the faith and 2) have a good conscience.
Those who hold to sound doctrine (faith) have the right basis for a sound life, but saying we believe is not always doing as we believe. Hypocrisy is a subtle and universal problem. It was a menace to the Church of Paul's day as well. That was in Paul's mind when he wrote to Timothy about having leaders whose lives were consistent with what they professed. ‘Don't be hasty in the laying on of hands’ and remember to keep your own hands clean as well.
How Does This Apply To Us?
The leaders of the church are not only given authority to make decisions, they are inevitably regarded as examples. It may be a truism but it needs to be said, ‘Those who are examples must lead exemplary lives.’ If Timothy was to look for that in others, it must be found in his own life. ‘My son,’ said Paul, ‘keep your own hands clean.’
We should always follow the example of our Lord. Let us bring our hands under the light of God's truth. His love will heal what His truth reveals. God is truth and love. Dare to let Him look at your hands; He knows how to make and keep them clean.
Pray With Me
O Lord whom no man can worship without clean hands and a pure heart, I pray for the cleansing of Your Holy Spirit upon these hands. I am willing to expose them wholly before the light of Your judgment and mercy. It was the live coal which touched Isaiah's lips and made them clean. Let it be the living fire of Your truth and love that reveals the need and brings about the cleansing of these hands.
Lord, Carpenter of Nazareth, Builder of life divine, these are Your hands. Let them move where Your hands would move and be used as Your hands. So will my hands be clean in Heaven's business, clean for the Master's use, clean in obedience to Your commands, and clean to the glory of Your name.
In Your name, my prayer is offered and in Your service, these hands would be yielded. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Before we fold our hands in supplication, let them remain open before God. Let His truth uncover that which His loving forgiveness can recover. Let His truth show the need and then let His grace lift the burden. Now we are ready to ask and sure to receive anything in His name (John 14:14).
