Introduction
Modern spirituality often chases mountaintop experiences — fire-filled revivals, prophetic utterances, supernatural breakthroughs. And while God does reveal Himself in those moments, Scripture consistently teaches something we often overlook: God’s glory is just as present in the hidden, slow, and ordinary rhythms of life.
What if washing dishes, writing emails, or changing diapers could be spiritual acts? What if the common is actually the canvas for the divine?
1. Moses and the Burning Bush – Exodus 3:1–5
“And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush…” (v.2)
“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (v.5)
Exegetical Insight:
Moses wasn’t in a temple. He was tending sheep — a routine task in an arid wilderness. Yet the ordinary shrub burned with divine fire. Why? Because God’s presence made it holy.
- There was no thunder, no trumpet, no ark of the covenant — just a bush and dirt.
- The lesson? God sanctifies spaces by His presence, not by our perception.
This was the Old Testament’s first personal call to ministry, and it happened during manual labor. God often meets us when we least expect it — not when we’re seeking fireworks, but when we’re being faithful.
2. Jesus’ Hidden Years – Luke 2:51–52
“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submissive to them… And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Exegetical Insight:
From ages 12 to 30 — that’s 18 years — the Son of God is not preaching, healing, or walking on water. He is quietly working, obeying His parents, and learning a trade. Luke compresses nearly two decades into one verse. Why?
Because spiritual maturity isn’t proven in miracles — it is formed in submission and obscurity.
- Jesus spent more time at the carpenter’s bench than in the pulpit.
- When the Father said, “This is my beloved Son,” (Luke 3:22), Jesus had not yet performed a single miracle.
God affirms identity before performance.
God values formation before revelation.
3. The Theology of Ordinary Elements
Jesus didn’t institute communion using exotic spices or rare wine. He used what was at every dinner table: bread and wine (Matthew 26:26–28). He sanctified:
- Water (turned to wine – John 2:1–11)
- Mud (to heal the blind – John 9:6)
- Fish and loaves (to feed thousands – John 6:9–13)
- Feet-washing (to teach servant leadership – John 13)
The kingdom of God is not always revealed in spectacle. It often enters the world through the humble, the overlooked, the daily.
4. Paul’s View – Colossians 3:17 & 3:23
“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
“…work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
Exegetical Insight:
Paul is writing to slaves, workers, spouses — not apostles or prophets. He tells them that all life is lived before God.
- No task is too small to be sacred.
- The Christian life is not divided into “holy” and “secular.” All is sacred if done unto Christ.
This is what the doctrine of vocation teaches: God is not only found in the sanctuary, but in service, spreadsheets, and sandwiches.
5. Reclaiming the Ordinary
a. Spiritual Practices in Daily Rhythms
- Laundry becomes liturgy when done in love.
- Cooking becomes communion when offered with gratitude.
- Parenting becomes priesthood when done with gospel vision.
b. Holiness Is Proximity to God, Not Productivity
“Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
Holiness is not performance. It’s alignment with the character of God — which can happen while cleaning toilets as much as leading worship.
c. Glory Is Often Hidden
“The kingdom of God is like leaven… hidden in flour” — Matthew 13:33
The leaven is working even when it seems invisible.
God’s work in your life often grows quietly. Don’t despise small things (Zechariah 4:10).
Conclusion: The God Who Dwells in Dust
If God took on flesh, walked dusty roads, and ate bread — then there is no part of life too common to be touched by glory.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” — John 1:14
You do not need to escape your daily life to find God.
You need to learn to see God in your daily life.