The Tea Towel

Philippians 2:12 & 15-18

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good and pleasure.

15 … children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. 16 It is by your holding fast to the world of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you—18 and in the same way you must also be glad and rejoice with me.

In my laundry room, I have a tea towel gifted by my mother that says, “I live in a madhouse ruled by a tiny army that i made myself.”

It cracks me up every time. Especially because I often notice it when I’m in anguish about the literal eye-high pile of laundry in front of me (and likely the dishes, lego clean up, and hair-braiding behind me).

It is so, so easy in today’s world to let ourselves fall into the mind trap that things are harder or worse for us than ever before. In fact, research suggests generation after generation does feel this way.

Friends, let us take a moment of grace to agree that our lives are not like Paul’s in this passage. Even Paul talks of his own world as “crooked and perverse.” Do we work out our own “salvation with fear and trembling?” Absolutely—yes. But because we have the Word of God and Jesus’ promise of salvation, we “shine like stars in the world.”

Wherever you are in the world right now, God circled on a map for you.

Paul reminds us here that all we must do to feel joyous is to right our minds on Christ. Bring your arguments and murmurs and whines to Him, and then let them go. You have better things to do today, Mom.

When we pour ourselves out as a libation (an old timey word for sacrifice) for our children, families, friends, and communities we are doing God’s work. And we can rejoice in the fact that not only do we have life today, but also the strength and courage to work because we have a God who calls us by name.

Emily

Have more time? Read the longer version of this passage in the NIV go to Philippians 2:10-18.

Want your own madhouse towel? I found one that’s pretty close on Amazon here!