READ:
1 Timothy 2
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling” (v.8.) Jewish people knew about the purity of the hands. Washing hands was a requirement that one needed to do to approach their Holy God. Exodus 30: 19-21 says, “Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it [the bronze basin]. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”
As people began to walk in the new covenant, they understood that purity shifted from the physical washing of hands to the inner washing of the heart, as talked about in James 4:8. “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
It is this shift in the condition of the heart that Paul addresses in the second half of 1 Timothy 2. Women were adorning themselves with the “biggest and best” in fashion, most likely creating a divide in status to those who could not afford to do so. Some women, while being released by Jesus to walk in freedom, were taking this freedom to cause division. Paul admonishes them toward a life of holiness. We really need to think about holiness. What is holiness in God’s eyes? Paul is pushing Timothy and through him, the entire church, to consider their ways. When we think of the Christian life, we often consider “not sinning”, as in not murdering or committing sexual immortality. It is so much more than this, and the book of 1 Timothy points us in this direction. God is looking for a consistent uprightness in our lives.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1.
Holiness and the purity of
heart is something that God asks of us, regardless of gender. The Old Testament
gave a symbol of this purity – the washing of hands. We use our hands for
everything we do. We work, comfort, talk and show emotions with our hands. Now
think about our entire bodies! How we use them often reflects what is in our
heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one area where you are not walking in
the direction He would have you. Where are you being impure?
2.
As a response to the thing
God showed you in #1, ask Him for one practical step you can take today to
“wash your hands” in this area.
3.
There is a song by Chris
Tomlin that echoes the above thoughts. “Give us clean hands, give us pure
hearts, let us not lift our souls to another.” Our hearts can be drawn to
outward adornment or having “the biggest and best.” Ask God if there is
anywhere in your life where you are doing this – with clothes, electronics,
household items, etc. Ask Him if people know you more for what you have or for
who you are. Ask the Holy Spirit for help to change anything He reveals.
