Are dishwashers more effective than hand washing dirty dishes? I have always wondered about this. As a child, being asked (or forced…) to hand wash the dirty dishes, I would dream of the day when I would never hand wash dishes again. It became a personal goal of mine to make sure that whatever house I lived in, there would be a functional dishwasher in that house. (Side note: Some parents reading this are screaming, “My children are my dishwashers!”)
Ultimately, it is a trivial question. The key issue is to arrive at the destination of having clean dishes. There is nothing worse, whether by hand or machine, to go looking to obtain a clean cup or set of silverware or even a plate, and immediately see pre-existing gook or even residue from the lack of thorough cleaning. These experiences always have the potential of taking one’s appetite away. It would be an understatement of how unacceptable these encounters are in restaurants and other public eateries.
The idea of expecting something clean and getting something dirty is not only uncomfortable, it is unsettling. That’s what happens with our lives, being offered to God, without any examination to see whether they are contaminated or not.
1 Peter, written by one who understood the seriousness of heart defects and character flaws, expresses a central truth about our walk with Christ, we must offer ourselves as holy vessels. 1 Peter 1: 14-16 (Message) reads, “Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. (15) As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. (16) God said, ‘I am holy; you be holy.”
Most people see holiness as unattainable and unrealistic. But these few verses help provide a clearer understanding that holiness is not only attainable and realistic, but it is expected and commanded.
These few verses help us see:
1. Holiness is hindered when we are undisciplined – The first thing Peter writes is, “Don’t lazily slip…” The idea here is that without careful attention or being committed in our daily living, we could easily revert back to our pre-Christ modes. This is the opposite of holiness.
2. Holiness is hindered when we are guided solely by our feelings – Our feelings and natural cravings, without boundaries and self-control, dictate to us the opposite of God’s will for our lives. The Holy Spirit serves as a guide and instructor in living that enables us be consistent in our pursuit of holiness.
3. Holiness is attainable when your knowledge is increased – Peter explains that pre-Christ that there was a certain level of ignorance that we all had about being a disciple of Christ, living by faith, and living to please God and not ourselves. As we’ve grown and been fed the Word of God, our understanding has increased. Quite simply, as the old euphemism underscores, “When you know better, you do better.”
4. Holiness is possible by complete obedience – In Verse 15, the word ‘obedience’ screams for our attention and focus. Without obedience, we are considered rogue imposters of God’s kingdom and children. Without a willing obedience to God’s Word and work, we then become rebels to all of God’s instructions and forfeit all of God’s blessings and results. Our hearts then become numb to God’s training. Obedience becomes the starting point.
So, whether you use your hands or a machine, I am sure that you love all of your dishes to be thoroughly clean. God expects the same. He wants all of his children, thoroughly clean.Are dishwashers more effective than hand washing dirty dishes? I have always wondered about this. As a child, being asked (or forced…) to hand wash the dirty dishes, I would dream of the day when I would never hand wash dishes again. It became a personal goal of mine to make sure that whatever house I lived in, there would be a functional dishwasher in that house. (Side note: Some parents reading this are screaming, “My children are my dishwashers!”)
Scripture of the Day: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:14-16
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