Get Your Hands Dirty

# What the calf shows us Genesis 18:7 describes Abraham running to the herd, taking a calf, and having it prepared. On the surface it's a hospitality or sacrificial scene, but the devotional asks readers to notice the labor behind that image. In an agrarian world, preparing an animal for sacrifice or a meal was hands-on, dirty work. That context shaped Israelite worship and daily life.

# Work in worship and life The Levites and priests performed repeated, practical tasks tied to ritual life. The author points out that these roles could be mistaken for butchers because so much of worship involved preparing animals. The point is not that we regain those specific rituals, but that the biblical picture presumes effort and physical involvement as part of devotion.

# Salvation and service: two different realities The devotional makes a clear distinction: salvation is a free gift of God and cannot be earned through works. At the same time, being saved entails a renewed life that produces visible changes. The author uses Paul's contrast (alluded to) to say that works are not the basis for salvation, but they are expected fruit of a changed life.

# Practical demands of following Jesus Putting faith into practice requires sacrifice and discomfort. The author names concrete behaviors: loving neighbors even when it's inconvenient, sacrificing comfort and resources instead of hoarding them, and serving others as Jesus did—including humble acts that may feel degrading or difficult. The early church, empowered by the Spirit, practiced this pattern of hands-on service.

# A scriptural anchor Micah's summary of what God requires—do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God—is cited as the scriptural standard. The author uses Micah to show that the expectations for faithful living are explicit and demanding. The devotional invites readers to accept that expectation rather than avoid it.

# Why this matters for modern believers Modern readers no longer live in an agrarian economy, so it's easy to miss the embodied, physical cost of biblical devotion. But the theological and practical lesson carries over: spiritual growth and communal life involve labor. The devotional calls believers to resist comfortable passivity and to engage in concrete acts of service.

# Author and context The piece is a short weekly devotional by Joshua Grubbs, published September 14, 2026 on Liberty HealthShare's blog under categories like Christian Values and Trusting God. It aims to prompt inward renewal that shows up outwardly through sacrificial service.