Time with Jesus - 3 Dec 2013
Hi all,
The origin of “Cleanliness is next
to Godliness,” a common proverb, dates as far back as ancient Hebrew writings
and possibly longer. While some attribute it to the Bible, it's actually not
found there.
The first known English appearance of the proverb is from the
writings of Sir Francis Bacon in 1605. In his 'Advancement of Learning' Bacon
wrote, “Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to
God.” Roughly 200 years later, John Wesley used the words we are now familiar
with. 
The phrase is not meant to be taken literally, although many “neat freaks”
would argue otherwise! The saying is meant to remind us to keep our hearts and
minds clear of evil and "dirty" thoughts, leaving them free and clean
for God.
Some people take for granted the
importance of cleanliness. Keeping yourself clean is important because it keeps
you away from diseases. This is why medical experts always remind us to wash
our hands. Proper hygiene is vital in keeping ourselves healthy. We also don’t
want our friends or colleagues to avoid us because we have body odour. 
It is
also important to keep our surrounding clean, because this will help in
eliminating unwanted visitors such as cockroaches, flies and rodents. A tidy
environment is good for all of us.
In 1982, Phyllida and I befriended
a couple who lived fairly close to our home. They were a delightful pair who
were experiencing marital problems. Their marriage continued to deteriorate over
the course of the next several months and they decided to divorce. We continued
to maintain friendship with them both. even though the husband moved out of the
marital home.
Phyllida and I had both been through divorce, so we were aware of
the problems typically confronting them. He had nowhere to live so we agreed to
“put him up” until he could find somewhere. If my memory is correct it was for
about 2 weeks.
He had a serious health problem. He
suffered from severe halitosis. This was a factor which may have influenced his
wife to proceed with divorce. Phyllida and I were rather embarrassed. We didn’t
like him within our personal space. 
The smell was overpowering. We wondered if
it was purely a hygiene problem and perhaps all he needed was a toothbrush and toothpaste.
A quick check in the bathroom revealed a wet toothbrush and toothpaste. Eventually
we found his halitosis originated from several bad teeth which could be
repaired by his dentist. He couldn’t see the dentist because he didn’t have money
to pay for his treatment!
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References
to “Wash” in the Pentateuch
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Gen:19:2
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Exo:40:30
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Lev:13:58
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Lev:15:16
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Num:8:7
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Gen:24:32
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Lev:1:9
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Lev:14:8
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Lev:15:21
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Num:19:7
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Exo:2:5
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Lev:1:13
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Lev:14:9
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Lev:15:22
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Num:19:8
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Exo:19:10
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Lev:6:27
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Lev:14:47
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Lev:15:27
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Num:19:10
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Exo:29:4
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Lev:9:14
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Lev:15:5
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Lev:16:4
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Num:19:19
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Exo:29:17
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Lev:11:25
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Lev:15:6
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Lev:16:24
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Num:19:21
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Exo:30:18
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Lev:11:28
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Lev:15:7
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Lev:16:26
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Num:31:24
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Exo:30:19
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Lev:11:40
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Lev:15:8
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Lev:16:28
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Deu:21:6
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Exo:30:20
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Lev:13:6
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Lev:15:10
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Lev:17:15
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Deu:23:11
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Exo:30:21
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Lev:13:34
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Lev:15:11
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Lev:17:16
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Exo:40:12
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Lev:13:54
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Lev:15:13
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Lev:22:6
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One of the earliest Biblical
examples of God’s requirement for cleanliness is found in the story of the
flood. If we read Genesis 6 we find that the earth was filled with violence.
5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had
made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen 6:5-6 KJV. Verse 5 states that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually.
It’s difficult for us to imagine
just how “dirty” this world seemed to Him. Now we have a custom in 2013. Essentially
it is that when something gets dirty, wash it clean. In this regard, God showed
us the way! Essentially He decided to wash away the filth in an international giant
flood.
The result would be that man and all animal and bird life on earth would
be washed away. He was about to place planet earth into an antediluvian
dish-washer. Fortunately for you and me, God decided he would save Noah, his
wife, their three sons and their wives along with pairs of the animals.
11
Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and
was filled with violence. 12 God observed
all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said
to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all
living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will
wipe them all out along with the earth!
14 "Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof
it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.
Gen 6:11-14 NLT
The story of Noah building the Ark
and the flood is well known. What is perhaps not realised is the tremendous impact
this would have on the surface of the earth. I’ve read a comment that the highest
level of the water covering the earth was a number of kilometres above the top
of what we call Mt Everest.
As the water drained away into what we now call oceans,
the impact on the surface of the earth would be enormous. Certainly sufficient
to produce what we call continents.
God is “passionate” about
cleanliness. By way of illustration I’ve produced a list of references to the
word “wash” from e-Sword using the KJV. It’s an interesting exercise to look up
these references and see the extent of His passion about you and I being clean.
There are “laws” covering all kinds of different situation. These references
are separate from the 10 commandments or 10 Living Words as referred to by the
Jews.
It has been said that many Jews do
not believe women go to heaven. The ceremonial cleanness and uncleanness would
render it just about impossible!
Thank God for Jesus and the New Covenant! How
the Jewish ladies cope with these regulations is beyond my understanding.
Shalom
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 3 Dec 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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CLEANLINESS
AND GODLINESS
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In
the 1960’s in the UK, radio was still comparatively popular. TV was well and
truly ensconced, but radio was far from forgotten. There were some programmes
that were widely followed. One of them was a weekly “Letter from America” by
Alistair Cook. He would take a broad look at what was happening around him.
His descriptions were classic. Very often, with tongue in cheek he would
report on the latest “fad” going on around him. At times he was most
complimentary. His weekly letter had been read since shortly after WW2 and
people loved it. When he passed away, it was the closest thing to a national
day of mourning that I remember. Other favourites included “Beyond our Ken”
featuring the comedy of Kenneth Horne. He followed this with “Around the
Horn” which also became a “national event”.
Another
favourite was a show called, “My Word”. The stars were two “show writers”
called Frank Muir and Dennis Norden. Their “pierce de resistance” occurred at
the beginning and end of the show. At the beginning they were given a well-known
expression. They were asked to think about it and, at the end, they would be
asked to explain how and where, in their imagination, these saying came
about. On one occasion the phrase was, “People who live in glass houses
should not throw stones”. One of them went into an elaborate tale of an
African King who lived in a grass house and who kept his thrones in a tree.
One day the thrones fell on him through the roof and killed him. Hence the
expression, “People who live in grass houses should not store thrones”.
One
of the pithy “proverbs” from my youth was, “Cleanliness is next to
Godliness”. It’s one of those statements we feel sure originates in the
Bible. Much to our subsequent surprise, we find it doesn’t. It just seems to
sound so right; it should be there somewhere! In fact, in many cases, just
the opposite is true. This is because you and I know what appeals to others.
Then, when the customer is impressed, a product is produced that is a
trade-off between expectation and price. Not many people can afford the
excellence of quality and luxury of a Rolls Royce. Some make do with
something a little cheaper! Their decision will be dictated by functionality
and affordability. The rich will settle for well-known top of the range cars.
The poor will have to get by with something that is “pre-owned”. Others will
have to make do with “Shank’s pony”. However, whatever it is that we finally
settle on, Christians must realise that this thinking pervades almost
everything. We know that we are the Temple of the Living God. We know that He
is living in us. In other words, all of us are equal in the eyes of God. But
the location and comfort of our “temple” depends on our desire to be clean
and Godly.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully
trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's
blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been
washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 NLT
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Cleanliness and Godliness, are said to be a pair,
That people all should follow and something we should share.
It isn’t in the Bible and is quite often true.
But is it universal in everything we do?
It hinges on our motives. It hangs upon our goals.
It hinges on the purposes, within our hearts and souls.
Some people are fastidious in keeping themselves clean.
But in their hearts we find that they are covetous and mean.
The cleanliness is outward; they wash away the dirt.
But they are quite indifferent, to all the pain and hurt,
Which they cause other people. They’re fine on the outside,
But when you get to know them, they are sin personified!
Our Lord and Master Jesus, once spoke of them that way.
They are like whited sepulchres; outside they look OK.
But underneath the surface; below the whitened stones,
They’re littered with corruption and filled with dead men’s bones.
He said this of the Pharisees and all their outward rites.
Very few were interested in other people’s plights.
They’d wash their hands in public when they sat down for a meal.
All of the observers would think it very real.
But none of it was genuine. They did it all for show;
And to impress the people whom they didn’t want to know!
They took as their example, what God said He desired.
Washing at the laver, He certainly required.
“To and from the tabernacle, wash your hands and feet!”
It was never optional. And if they didn’t meet,
These absolute requirements, most likely they would die.
This was the commandment from God Who reigns on High.
It is a requirement that still lives on today.
Christians are the Temple of God in every way.
We must keep it spotless and always free from sin.
Give no opportunity for Satan to come in.
Jesus Christ will wash us; His blood will make us clean.
When we are repentant and confess what we have been.
Each of us are temples. His Spirit is inside;
With a special purpose; to lead us and to guide.
God has said He’ll do it. It is His guarantee.
That if we follow Jesus, with Him we’ll always be!
Jim Strickland
Written
3rd December 2012
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18 "You shall also make a basin of
bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the
tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19
with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their
hands and their feet. 20 When
they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister,
to burn a food offering to the LORD, they shall wash with water, so that they
may not die. 21 They shall wash
their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a
statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their
generations."
Exodus 30:18-21 ESV
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19 Or didn't you realize that your body is a
sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you
can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price
for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the
spiritual part of you.
1 Corinthians 6:19 MSG
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17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this
temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:17 NLT
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26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my
body I will see God! 27 I will
see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am
overwhelmed at the thought!
Job 19:26-27 NLT
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27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter,
nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only
those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 NLT
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13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the
treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous
than themselves?
Habakkuk 1:13 TNIV
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1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by
the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable
to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1 ESV
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