Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.
1 Corinthians 4:8-13

Laundry.  My arch nemesis.  It is truly diabolical.  I spend an entire day doing 6 loads of laundry, emptying every basket, and getting it all folded and tucked neatly into drawers.  And then I watch that evening, as my family gets ready for bed and tosses more dirty laundry into those very baskets.  Ahhhhhh!  Curse you laundry!  (That last bit is especially for those Phineas and Ferb fans out there.)

My husband usually just laughs as I mutter under my breath and plot vicious attacks on the laundry that is unending.  Laundry had to be part of the curse of the Fall.  Right then, at the moment Adam and Eve sewed those fig leaves together to cover themselves, the task of washing clothing became part of a sinful world.  For as much as I abhor the eternal nature of doing laundry, I know that the real curse of the Fall was so much worse.

Sin is a constant in our lives.  No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we are constantly saying the wrong words, making bad choices, doing the wrong things or thinking unkind thoughts.  We hurt those around us and cause others pain.  We harm instead of build up.  And all of this “dirty laundry” pales in comparison to the most broken relationship – our relationship with God.  We have hurt him.  We spurn his love and disobey him.

And when we go to him in prayer, ask his forgiveness and feel “right” with God, it really only lasts a short time.  Because we’re right there, making another mistake and throwing another piece of laundry into the basket.  I can’t even keep my basket of sin empty for a few hours.  (or minutes?)

How wonderful it is to realize at those times that Christ’s blood has washed us clean… for good.  Because of Christ, we are clothed in righteousness.  We get to wear “holy.”  And these clothes are staying white.  We don’t need to change them.  We don’t need to wash them.  His blood was permanent!  How amazing is that? That's why the basket for dirty laundry is empty!

So when you’re feeling like you just can’t do anything right and those mistakes just keep piling up, remember that God’s forgiveness was permanent.  You are clean.  Your clothes don’t need washing.  In God’s eyes, you are sparkling and his spirit is in you.  He is there to help you keep that basket of dirty laundry empty.

Ask the Lord

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the amazing gift of clean clothes.  With no work or effort on my part, I always have a pair of clean clothes to put on and my laundry basket stays empty because of your Son.  Help me to remember that on days when I'm feeling particularly bad and dirty.  Remind me that you have washed all that away and I get a clean start.  Thank you for your astounding love.
Amen.