A recent article in a national publication revealed that 85 percent of adults wash their hands in public restrooms. Women do a better job with this than men. Only 77 percent of men wash their hands, compared with 93 percent of women.
The Bible symbolically addresses this subject with a question, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalm 24: 3-4)
Just as clean hands are the way to a healthier life, a pure heart is so important for a healthy spiritual life.
Churches all around the world recognize that we are now approaching the season of Advent . . . a time for preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem and looking forward to the return someday of Christ as the King of Kings.
It is my hope and prayer that this Advent season will be a time of preparation in my own life. A time of prayer, worship and growth in my faith. Maybe this is your prayer also.
Of course, doing the shopping is important. Buying the gifts is something that needs to be done. But I suggest that the most important thing during this season of the year is preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. Are you ready? It is time to begin. This season of the year reminds us of that.
Perhaps today, with God’s help, we can take some positive steps towards having “clean hands and a pure heart.”