How many times do we find ourselves laboring through the mundane preparations of life under our own strength? How many times do we find ourselves somewhat grumpy about the daily slog of life being a joyless burden upon our spirits? Most of the time, when we feel that way, it’s because we have focused on the tasks at hand while missing the worship that those tasks are meant to produce. Colossians 3:17 tells us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. I don’t often have that perspective when I’m sweeping the floor for the 3 time that day or when I’m picking up toys that are strewn about the kids’ rooms for the millionth time. And yet, we affirm that everything that we do is fundamentally an act of worship. I don’t feel like I’m worshipping when I do those tasks, and the frustration that I feel reveals that there’s something wrong. In short, I’m focusing on me and what I need to do instead of getting the perspective that the Gospel brings to the mundane.

This week, we’re turning our attention to Joshua 5. In many ways, this passage highlights the priority and necessity of worship in our lives. We’ve been waiting for that climactic joining of battle for 4 chapters already. We’re ready for the big moment to come when the Israelites attack Jericho. The Israelites have crossed the Jordan, have set up their memorial stones, and are finally in the Promised Land. Surely, it’s time to get down to fighting. Nope. God did something unthinkable in Joshua 5. In full view of armed enemies while in a vulnerable position with the Jordan at their backs and the fortress of Jericho before them, God told them to circumcise all the men and then to celebrate the Passover. Apparently, it wasn’t time to fight or even prepare to fight. You see God wanted the people to get spiritually ready before anything else. All the mundane preparations of getting weapons ready, drawing up battle plans, and briefing commanders had to wait until they had the proper spiritual perspective.

And so this Sunday, as we prepare to come to the Lord’s Table for the first time in 2021, we need to see the primacy and priority of our spiritual lives. So many of our issues come from working from an earthly perspective rather than a heavenly one. Come this Sunday to see how God drags us out of our priorities and aligns us with His priorities through His Son, Jesus.  See you there!