After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide. – Joshua 1:1

Today's Scripture Reading (February 5, 2022): Joshua 1

Alan Redpath (1907-1989), a British evangelist, author, and pastor, talks about a plaque that he noticed hanging over a kitchen sink. According to Redpath, the plaque read, "Divine service is conducted here three times daily." It is a good reminder of an eternal truth. Too many people within the church see "divine service" as the job of the pastor, the worship leader, or others who do something from the platform of the church. But the truth is that "divine service" is more often done in the church kitchen than on the stage. "Divine service" is often more about cleaning the church, shoveling the sidewalk, and cutting the grass than it is about playing the guitar on the worship team. "Divine service" is more about the myriad of small things and commitments that we do in our lives than the public duties performed by church leaders.

Joshua, the son of Nun, was not a young man as Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River. He had been one of the spies who had invaded Canaan almost four decades earlier. Then, Joshua had already established himself as a national leader. Since that time, he had become an aide to Moses, doing the myriad of little things so that the Prophet could take care of the bigger things. Joshua worked willingly in the kitchen of the nation so that Moses could focus his attention on the bigger things.

But when Moses dies, it is Joshua's time to take center stage as the nation's leader—four decades of doing the small things had prepared Joshua for his role as the successor to Moses.

I strongly believe that anyone who is unwilling to toil at the small things is unworthy of a leadership position inside the church. We all need to spend our time in the proverbial church kitchen, doing the divine service required there before we begin to lead. And this is true in every area of our lives.

When Moses left Israel, Moses was not ready to lead the nation of his forefathers. When he was young, part of Moses's problem was that he had lived a life of privilege, growing up in the king's palace. Moses, who grew up as royalty, toiled taking care of the sheep for his father-in-law. Moses for the next forty years. This prince of Egypt became someone who spent four decades doing the small things of life. And every moment Moses spent doing the little things was a moment spent in preparation for him to lead the nation.

And as Moses led the nation, Joshua did the little things, faithfully waiting for the time when God would call his name. And now was the time for Joshua to lead.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 2