Where you stand is holy

In the Book of Joshua 5:13-15, we can read of this amazing record of the encounter of Joshua with the LORD before the fall of Jericho:

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Ney; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said onto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15, KJV

As Joshua worshiped him, who then told Joshua to loose off his shoe, for the place is holy, we know that he is none other than the Christ, the Son of God! It is interesting to note that when moses was called in the wilderness at the age of 80, he was also told to take off his shoe. So, here is the question: why taking off their shoes? Undoubtedly, both Moses and Joshua are serving the God who is holy. As servants, they must stand before God, and where they stand is holy. The shoe, however, is what we ware to walk in this world, and consequently, is filthy. So, to serve and stand before God, we must take off our old wakings in this world, and stand in holiness. This is such an important issue for us to have victory in our lives serving God, that the LORD come on special purpose to emphasize this to Joshua before the battle to take Jericho, the first city in the promised land.