Jesus Wants You to do the Dishes

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
-Paul (Romans 12:1 MSG)

We are often taught to have big goals and lofty ideals every time a new season starts (year, birthday, whatever). To some extent, there's nothing wrong with that. It's not rare in our church for us to encourage people to not be afraid of taking new bold steps of faith. But it's a double edged sword. Even as you read this, I'm out on sabbatical, and in the months leading up, one of the most annoying mentalities I've had to fight is: How can I make sure that my time of rest achieves lots of big things while I'm gone so that I can show how much I accomplished and grew?

But as I've reflected on the constant pressure to go big or go home all the time, a thought began to stir in me. Christians often (rightly so) ask Jesus to help them determine what their big tasks and priorities should be. And they expect that for it to be meaningful, it must indeed... be big. 
God, what enormous and amazing thing am I supposed to do this year/in my 40s/in my work/etc??? 

Now, I'm not going to claim I heard God's voice. But I'm not going to deny the possibility either. Because each time this thought comes up over the years, I've heard this simple phrase... 

Big things are great, but I really want folks to do the dishes.
-God (possibly) 

So I've been thinking about this. And I think "doing the dishes" is about more than just doing the dishes. A heart and mind that is being transformed in Jesus looks at every person, moment, and task in a new way. Dishes and laundry around the house are completely thankless jobs that most people avoid. They never end. The moment you take care of them, another meal comes along, another day wears through clothing, and the pile comes back again. 
IT WILL NEVER GO AWAY. 
EVER. 
EVVVVVVVVVVVVERRRRRRRR. 

Am I inspiring you yet?

But that's just it. What if the biggest priority to achieve in the long, slow journey of discipleship was inviting God to transform the smallest moments that repeat over and over again? What if we, as an entire group of people, submitted ourselves to being changed by God's love while doing dishes or while driving to work? What if we decided that the mundane moments of our lives that everyone overlooks would become, in us, opportunities to serve in joy? Opportunities to show love? Opportunities to enjoy God, even?

What if I willingly served my family or roommate by stepping up to do the dishes, and then took it a even further by seeing each dish as a metaphor for how Jesus continues to renew me every day in my ability to receive and express His love? Is it possible this would shift how we view those days that leave us feeling used up, broken down, or just plain dirty? What if each day we remembered that we are that dish, but grace is constantly renewing us? 

Don't you think that would change your life, maybe in big ways? As a disciple of Jesus, our greatest fulfillment will not be found by inviting God to redeem each moment.

I hope you have grand goals and I hope you achieve them. But might I encourage you to make one of those goals a willingness welcome the in-between moments of life with joy and intentionality, so that there would be no area of your life where Jesus is not Lord. 

Because maybe a start to accomplishing big things for Jesus, is hearing him invite you to you to do the dishes really well. 

Jesus, transform today's normal moments so that every minute might be an experience of your love and grace. 

Peace,
Keith*

*I'm on sabbatical until July 7th, so for a while Together For Good will be highlighting our favorite reminders from the archives. Don't worry, if I can't remember writing half of them, I'm hopeful they'll be fresh reminders to you as well!

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