Wednesday, February 8, 2012

For the sake of the gospel

"I do it all for the sake of the gospel, 
that I may share with them in its blessings."
1 Corinthians 9:23

Last Sunday our dryer broke.  Thankfully, I work at an in-home childcare center, so I was able to bring all my laundry there to be dried.  I don't think I ever realized how much laundry I really do!  Every day there was wet laundry to be loaded into the car.  And then that laundry, now dry, had to be brought into the house.  To be put into drawers and closets, to be worn and washed again.  And until Wednesday, the cycle will repeat.

Tasks we do every day, like laundry, can seem thankless.  The clothes are washed and dried and put away.  Same with the dishes, the vacuuming, the making of beds.  There are days that we moms clean up mess after mess and no one notices, let alone thank us for it!  We have to be all for everyone, and that can take a lot out of us!

Paul was in the same position.  In 1 Corinthians 9:19 he says, "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them."  We may feel like maids and chauffeurs and chefs, but think of what else we are to our children--we are there to bring them to the waters of Holy Baptism.  We are there to teach them the gospel, about our Lord sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  We have the privilege of bringing them the gospel every day.

Thinking of this puts a spring in my step.  I may have to be everything to everyone at home.  I may do the laundry over and over, only to have more dirty clothes greet me in the morning.  As Paul said, "I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."  (1 Corinthians 9:23)  

We pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, I'm a busy mom.  Sometimes I feel like no one notices the work I do around the house.  It's easy to get discouraged.  Remind me, Lord, that I am not doing this work for nothing--I'm also there to bring the gospel to my children.  Help me know that through my work, my children are sharing in Your blessings.  In Your name I pray, Amen.


1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the encouragement! Another verse that reminds me that cooking, laundry, cleaning, etc. is for a bigger cause is Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

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