“Welcome to your first day on the job. Listen carefully as I explain your duties. Open the door in the morning. Close it at night. Did you get that?”

This morning, I’m hovering over some verses in 1Chronicles that have me thinking about how even the seemingly mundane, when it concerns the things of the Lord and is executed faithfully in service to the Lord, is quickly elevated to the magnificent.

The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen . . . in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance. . . . David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust. . . . And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

(1Chronicles 9:17, 19b, 22b, 27 ESV)

Office of trust. That’s the phrase in 9:22 that first caught my attention.

They were gatekeepers. Keepers of the thresholds to the temple. Keepers of the entrance. Doormen, essentially.

And my initial thought was that being a doorman is a pretty straight forward, easy to overlook job. But put that door at the entrance to the place where the glory dwells? Now being a doorman becomes a scared trust. The work might be somewhat menial, but it’s purpose quickly becomes somewhat majestic. Work that didn’t require a college degree, yet significant enough that the king, David, and a prophet, Samuel, took it upon themselves to fill the job.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

(Psalm 84:10 ESV)

So, initially I’m thinking that even a mundane job is elevated when conducted with a divine mandate.

But as I continued chewing on the passage, something in verse 27 got me thinking. Not only was their office of trust concerned with watching the gate and keeping the threshold, ensuring that nothing entered which would defile holy ground, but they also had charge of opening it every morning — ensuring, as well, that all would have access. That there would be nothing impeding access to the God who is in the midst and desires His glory to be known.

Too much of a stretch to place whatever our mundane duties in life are in such a context? Thinking not.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(1Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. . . . in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(1Peter 4:10-11 ESV)

I think we can make the case that everything we do is a sacred trust. Every day we are left on earth to live as followers of Christ allows us to do whatever we do — even eating and drinking — to the glory of God. Whether a doorkeeper or a CEO, a pastor or a parking lot attendant, it’s all a stewardship, that in everything God may be glorified.

We don’t need to go looking for some special “call of God” for our lives. Our lives are that call. Our mundane becomes magnificent when done for the LORD. Our ho-hum is elevated to holy when we see it as opening a door for some fellow sojourner to see Christ in us and through us, beckoning them to enter His gates with us.

This day, in all we do, is our office of trust. The mundane which, in Him, becomes magnificent.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.