We Are Sinners In Need Of Cleansing

 "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?'" is a question asked in Proverbs, but the tenor and temperature of this question is such that the answer must be, NO ONE! Nobody can say "I have cleansed my heart and am pure from sin." This may be the boast of the self-righteous moralist or deeply religious-minded Pharisee. Many foolishly consider they are 'good enough' when they compare their 'upright' life with the ungodly practices of their neighbor.
 This question in Proverbs 20:9 is designed to help us recognize we are sinners in need of cleansing. It is to make each one of us realize our heart is not clean before God, and that no one is pure from their sin or innocent before Him. It is a schoolmaster to point us to Christ, only the Lord can cleanse the hearts of the sinners. No amount of self-effort or self-cleaning can wash away the guilty sin that enchains each one of us.
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, how we thank You that through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the Cross, You have cleansed our hearts, forgiven our sins, and have made us pure within. We thank You that because of Him, we are accepted in the Beloved and clothed with His righteousness. It is in His name we pray, AMEN.