And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.– Exodus 24:13
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa, Italy—the city of his birth—but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic.
That violin can be compared to a Christian’s life. God, our designer and creator, made us to serve Him and to serve others. While we are busy serving Him, He gives us strength to continue on, but when we neglect to serve Him, His strength is not with us. We see a picture of this in the life of Joshua.
Joshua was a servant. He was the kind of man who delighted in serving. Notice a picture of Joseph’s life in Exodus 20:13, “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.” Moses went up to Mount Sinai for forty days and nights, communing with God. And Joshua, Moses’ minister, waited at the base of the mountain for Moses.
In today’s fast-paced, get-ahead society, not may people want to be a minister or a helper. But Joshua delighted in being the servant of Moses—he found joy in serving others! Joshua was exhibiting the attributes of Christ as shown in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The measure of a man’s greatness is not in how many people serve him, but in how many people he serves. Joshua was a great man and greatly used in Israel’s history because he faithfully ministered to Moses, God’s servant.
God is looking today for men and women who will be servants. People who will help a neighbor, pass out a Gospel tract, teach a Sunday school class, sing in the choir, drive a bus for the bus route, or serve in some capacity for the Lord. Joshua wasn’t simply the average Israelite who complained one day and praised God the next. He jumped into helping and stayed by Moses’ side, seeking to minister to him.
How are you serving the Lord? One of the greatest things you can do for the Lord is give yourself in service of Him. You may not be able to sing a solo, but you can help out in the nursery. You may not have the ability to preach a great sermon, but you can teach a children’s Sunday school class. God does not look at the magnitude in which you serve, but at the willingness of your heart.
Get involved in your church and ask how you can serve more. Be willing to volunteer when help is needed. And seek to serve the Lord any way you can! –From Daily in the Word
