Become a Dishwasher

The white-noise hum of the dishwasher breathes an air of careful diligence and faithful work into the room. I find its hum soothing and peace-inviting, restful constancy.

If you think about it, perhaps a microwave is more attractive: dumping volumes of intensity onto its subject and efficiently producing radical changes. Or, better yet, a pilot light on a stovetop: if you feel the inclination, surprise everyone by igniting and sustaining a reliable flame, but if you’d rather just flicker a greeting then retreat to lazy slumber, no one really expects you to put forth the effort for them anyway. (they’d really wanted to just microwave everything in the first place, right?) Ovens, I hardly use; they work so stealthfully that half the time the user forgets that they put cookies in there three hours ago. The user must constantly check on things, unsure whether their hopeful labor will produce goo or ashes, as ovens are frustratingly dependent on their settings and environment for effective manipulation.
What’s more, all of these typically make a big mess. (at least, when I use them). Explosions in the microwave, overflows and splatters across the stovetop, sticky pans and bulky baking sheets in the oven. Wouldn’t it be nice if users could put their minds at ease while starting an appliance, confident that things will turn out refreshingly pure and proper in the end, cleaning up the messes of the rest of your life?

I see before me the call to become more like a dishwasher. This will be my cycle: emptied by my Savior, filled with every good and fitting thing by my Master, infused with the powerful soap of the Spirit, and invited to start churning as God’s electricity initiates, sustains and determines how the penetrating work of the Spirit is completed.
Without being emptied of past refuse, I’m useless. Without being filled with projects and assignments by my King, I’m pointless. Without receiving the enablement of the Holy Spirit, I’m ineffective. Without determining my will to rally all of my being to churn and inspect and magnify the Spirit’s infiltrating power for everything I’m entrusted with, the job doesn’t get done!

Sure, God could handwash all of the little projects and tasks He might delegate to my labor. And I believe that He does and has, for often I have just not “felt” like churning, made excuses for letting things sit there, hoping that time will do the job or at least kick my gears in motion for me. Actually, God could simply speak, and it would be created. He could say, “greasy dish—be clean!!” and it would sparkle like a freshly polished pearl. Jesus could appear to those in my life, proving Himself to them in blinding power and put it in their hearts to drop all the stupid crap they’re pursuing and find life and hope and purpose in Him. He can open anyone’s eyes He chooses, in whatever manner He pleases—which is why I am amazed that He would take the extra care and effort to allow pathetic vessel s like me to experience the process. Oh, but I don’t want to take His sovereignty as an excuse for laziness; rather, how can I be most ready, willing, eager to participate?!

I sense as a call to grow in diligence. Microwave moments are exciting, feeling Him flood me with power and channeling it to immediately visible results (or, blowing something up). But to be a dishwasher, so much more could be done! I want to churn, learn, burn for the Gospel of His Truth, working with all my might to pour His love on every person my life is filled with until He says He’s changing it up, learning to work well with that Spirit which enables me for the task, diving deeper in to understanding the God Whose discernment to put people before me that He wants to cleanse and polish and know, learning to live this life where it’s so not about the silly dishwasher but where Christ in me is magnified and praised.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” --2 Peter 1:3-8