“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5 (NIV)
Washing
What is your least favorite chore around the house? I think I dislike washing clothes the most because it is a never-ending chore. Just as I finish one load of laundry, more dirty clothes show up. In fact, as I write today, my washing machine whirs in the background. And those clothes will get dirty again and again. Some stains will never come clean, no matter how much I scrub them. Thank goodness for bleach.
A few years ago, I stopped complaining as much about washing clothes. What changed my attitude? As I watched women in other countries do their laundry, I changed my opinion. My process is simple compared to their ways. I throw things into a washing machine and press a few buttons, and then I sit and wait. In many developing countries, the laundry takes several days to complete. It starts with collecting the water from the river. And sometimes the water is so muddy that all the white items turn a dingy brown. And all things get washed by hand, rinsed, wrung out and then hung somewhere to dry. Their task is backbreaking compared to mine.
Jesus’ Wash Day
Our Savior did some washing during His time on earth as well. Let’s look at John 13:12 (NIV), “After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing?’” In this verse, we find Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Our Lord bent over to wash each foot of those present and then he rubbed them dry. And Jesus did not complain about this task, but used the washing as an act of love for his disciples. So maybe I can learn to do laundry as an act of love for my family.
But the most important washing Jesus did for us came with his death on the cross. As shown in Titus 3:5 above, Jesus washed away our sins. His death on the cross provided us with the ultimate cleaning. This cleansing requires minimal effort on our part; we just need to ask the Lord to forgive our sins and enter our hearts to wash away those sins. We do not need to do any backbreaking work to receive this gift of His great mercy. We just need to repent of our sins and allow Him to wash us clean. Today is a good day to begin again. And once God does the laundry, it never needs to be rewashed.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. Thanks for all the lessons we can learn from the ordinary events of life. Thank you for your grace and mercy and for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for washing us clean and making us whiter the snow. Please help each of us to share the Good News so it may cleanse others. In Jesus’ Most Holy Name. Amen.
I don’t mind doing laundry, but I do remember working through the whole process and, like, magic, my son would appear from college with his hamper overflowing. As if he knew when I had put away the last sock.
So glad Jesus can wash us clean. Wonderful message, Yvonne. God bless!
Cleaning house is my least favorite chore. As you point out about the laundry, once cleaning is accomplished, it just gets dirty again. I love how our Savior’s washing is forever: “Once God does the laundry, it never needs to be rewashed.” Praise God!
Thank you Katherine. I love the fact that His cleaning is forever. Now, back to my laundry lol. Blessings
I thought about some of my least favorite chores, and doing laundry has to rate right up there among them, along with a sinkful of dishes. Love cooking the meal, but hate all the cleanup that comes afterward. LOL Am glad Christ so gladly came with wash away my sin. God’s blessings ma’am.
Thank you JD. I don’t mind the dishes as much but when I cook then Bill does the cleanup. Blessings
Thank you Nancy. I remember my kids with all their laundry from college too. The hamper never stays empty for long. Blessings
Excellent piece and filled with great points! I’ll never forget the trip I made to Zimbabwe in 2012, and how when we were at a village in Hatcliffe, the women invited me to help them get water from the well. It was hard work and illuminating to experience … I have never looked at chores like dishwashing and laundry the same since that day.
We do have it so easy compared to others but I still complain about doing the chores. I’m so glad doesn’t act the same way with us. Blessings
Washing clothes and washing dishes can sometimes be dreaded. However, I am thankful for the ability to do those things. 🙂 I am most thankful to be washed by Him. 🙂
Amen Melissa. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Blessings
I’m one of those people who loves laundry day. I love turning dirty articles into clean and useful articles for my family to wear. My kids quickly learned that I would help them wash their clothes and fold them when they were busy in high school and when they came home from college. Now my husband is retired, and he often usurps my role in order to help me around the house. I’m still sorting this one out. 🙂
May I send you my laundry lol. I’m glad some people enjoy it but not me. Thanks Melinda. Blessings
I love this beautiful message, Yvonne. I actually like doing laundry, but I’m glad I don’t need to wash my own sins. I’m eternally grateful for His gift of a clean heart.
It is a blessing that He washing me clean from my sins. Thank you Annie.
Thank you for reminding us that the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin is the best detergent we can find.
Amen. He is the best. Thanks Joanna. Blessings
I don’t mind laundry – I love the fresh scents involved. But there are other household tasks, such as dishwashing, I abhor. In the future, I’m going to remind myself I’m performing acts of love for my family. Thanks!
It helps to think about it as an act of love. Thank you Candyce. Blessings
I’m glad Jesus washed me clean! great analogy, Yvonne.
Thank you Debbie. Blessings
Excellent article, Yvonne. I enjoyed all your washing analogies and I’ve always found Titus 3:5 to be such powerful Bible verse. Thank you for painting this clear vision of being washed clean of our sins!
I am so glad that my sins were washed away. Thank you Karen. Blessings
Yvonne, I enjoyed your analogy of washing clothes to Jesus washing our sins away. Laundry is one of my favorite choirs because I like clothes! Cleaning my floors and bathrooms are my least favorite. Unfortunately all choirs require redoing, but I’m thankful salvation is a permanent cleansing through Jesus sacrificial work on the cross. Thanks for sharing.
It is wonderful that God gives us a permanent cleaning because we need it. And I’m glad He doesn’t tire of it like we do with our chores. Thanks Lisa. Blessings