What Does Cleaning Our Hands Mean Today for Us?

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

This is something God says to all of us. The Bible says that we are all sinners. We all need to repent and clean our hands. The hands represent what we do. Cleansing one's hands signifies changing our actions and abandoning sin. It involves not just repentance but also refraining from wrongful actions. It doesn't mean we will never sin again; it means that whoever has truly received God's forgiveness also makes an effort to change their ways. This is impossible to do alone. It is Jesus who tells us to do it, and it is He who gives us the strength to practice it. We all sin, but Christians who truly know God aim to walk in purity. The difference is in the attitude a person has toward sin. God works in the hearts of those who are redeemed to grow in holiness and purity despite their mistakes and failures.