Wash The Dishes!

Matt 23:25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. NIV

I hated that phrase while growing up on a farm in northern Ohio. I would have rather worked outside any day instead of washing dishes, pots, and pans! Yuck! It was not as physically hard as the other work I was accustomed to. I just don't know why I hated it so much.

Today for brunch I quickly made some vegetable fried rice. Then came the task of cleaning up the dishes. Since I am home alone it seemed like a good idea to just put off washing dishes until later. Then the thought came - who will wash them then? OK, I will do it now I replied to myself. As I was washing the few dishes I had to do the Bible verse from Matt 23 came to mind. I haven't thought of or used that verse in many years. Why today?

It may be that many believers have have soiled clothes in their closets and sinks full of dirty dishes that need to be washed. The teachers of the Law and Pharisees Jesus was speaking to simply did a quick pass over the dirty areas of life that involved them. They shined up the outside through ceremonies and dogma without reaching deep inside to see the spiritual dirt and bacteria that lurked in the corners of the dishes. It takes a good source of light to see and identify where the dirt is hiding. Then a lot of old fashioned "elbow grease" must be applied to scrub out the inside.

I had a paternal grandmother by marriage that used to save her dishwater in the oven between meals. That always bothered me. How clean could that water be? What about the reside of old food and garbage that was still floating on the surface of the dishwater. What about the temperature? I like lots of soap and very warm water to cut the grease of dishes that I am washing.

I wonder about present day ministers that keep their sermons lukewarm in the oven until the next time they take them out. We have issues in our lives and the families of the churches that need a real good scrubbing and cleansing. Jesus' Blood is that cleansing agent that can take away any sin and not leave a residue. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. KJV John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. KJV Matt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. KJV

There is absolutely no substitute for the Blood of Jesus Christ to wash away our sins. Man's ideas, philosophy, and even counseling will not remove those sin spots that are so deeply embedded in our lives and families. The Blood is available to all, but must be applied by faith. We must take the time and effort to approach the Throne of God in prayer and repentance with faith and present our lives stained by 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. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. KJV

No, we can't live on paper plates all our lives. Just eat and throw the paper dishes in the trash can. That is the lazy man's way of living. We need to use the dishes that God has given us. Get out the best we have. There are others who are hungry for what we have. Yes, it is embarrassing to have our guest sit down to our table and then notice with horror that we have dirty spots on the dishes. As soon as the dishes are used and get soiled we need to get out the hot water and dish soap and go after every spot we can find. Then we can rest easy and have confidence that when unexpected guests show up at the table of our life that they will be served on clean and spotless dishes.

This is an ongoing process. We can's sit back. We see movies of rich people with large staff taking care of their castles. We often see a member of the staff taking out the fine China cleaning and examining each piece in the bright sunlight to be sure there are not any spots that will embarrass the Master when His guests join Him for a meal.

What do you say? Let's don't leave our dirty dishes for someone else to clean? It won't take as long as one might think. The secret is to daily check our dishes (lives) and take the time and effort to clean each one the very best we can. Let's clean our cups and plates on the inside first and then the outside will take care of itself. God will help us in this important process of Christian living! Come on get scrubbing!

God bless you richly!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"