In what ways can we prepare ourselves spiritually before approaching God, as in Exodus 40:32? “Whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting and whenever they approached the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Why the Washing Matters The priests’ physical cleansing mirrored the inner readiness God desires in everyone who comes near Him. The same principles carry into our walk with Christ. Ways to Prepare Ourselves Spiritually • Confess and renounce sin – 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – Proverbs 28:13 reminds us that hiding sin blocks mercy; open confession restores fellowship. • Draw near with sincerity and faith – Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” – God welcomes honesty; pretenses crumble before His holiness. • Pursue purity of heart and hands – Psalm 24:3–4: “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? … He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” – Check motives, attitudes, and relationships; reconcile where needed (Matthew 5:23-24). • Cultivate reverent awe – Ecclesiastes 5:1: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” – Slow down, silence distractions, remember whose presence you seek. • Offer yourself in obedience – Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” – Obedience is the daily, tangible proof that our hearts are washed. • Clothe yourself in Christ’s righteousness – Isaiah 61:10 speaks of being “clothed with garments of salvation.” – Approach God confident, not in personal merit, but in the finished work of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Engage your mind with His Word – Ephesians 5:26 describes Christ cleansing the church “by the washing with water through the word.” – Read, meditate, and let Scripture align thoughts with truth. • Enter with gratitude and praise – Psalm 100:4: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” – Thankfulness shifts focus from self to the Lord’s character and works. Putting It All Together Just as the priests paused to wash at the laver before stepping into the Tent of Meeting, we pause to confess, believe, obey, and worship. The outward act in Exodus points us to an inward posture—clean hands, pure heart, and a spirit eager to honor the Holy One who invites us in. |
    |