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 ~ James 4:8

Know that God is approachable! When we come near to Him in prayer, in supplication, He will meet you right where you are. While we are drawing near to Him, He is drawing near to us. James inserts a cleansing motion here, to wash the hands. It refers to our conduct, and is essentially saying it must be changed. The washing of hands was a way of showing purification and innocence, and so as we come before God, this must be our attitude. Jesus said once to the Pharisees and Scribes that they washed the outside of a cup and dish, but inside they were full of greed and self-indulgence (Matt.23:25). James is renewing this word in saying, "wash your hands, purify your hearts." Do not be double-minded, or "fence-sitters" when you come before the Lord God and seek him. We do not have to be perfect when we come to God, He takes us as we are, but we do have to come with the conviction that He is God and that as pure as we are, we come, knowing our purity is based on the love of god which hung on the cross to redeem our sins.
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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