READ
Joshua 5:13-15
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
"Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
The commander of the LORD’S army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Reflect
Why did the angel say that he was neither for Joshua or his enemies? How does Joshua 1:3-5 line up with this? What was the angel's main point?
Why was Joshua instructed to take off his shoes? What did his shoes symbolize? Why was that ground holy?
Read
Colossians 1:15-16
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
What realms did God create?
Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Where is Jesus seated?
Where are you seated?
What does this privileged position mean for you?
REALITY CHECK
Is the spirit realm real to you? Why can it be so difficult to live in the spirit and physical realms at the same time?
How do we live in the connection of the physical and spirit realms?
What was the commander's word to Joshua? Take off your shoes, for the place where you are standing is holy.
This is what Jesus says to his disciples in John 6:27-29, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.
In other words, Jesus called his disciples to take off their good efforts and strategies and rely on Him for the energy and plan.
You might think this was an odd response from Jesus. But, He actually lived this way. John 5:17, 19 - Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working. I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.