SOFT HEART = CALLOUSED HANDS

Of all the characters in the Bible, to me, Joseph is the one who most portrays the attributes of Jesus in all his persecution, being wrongly accused, betrayed and deserted by his family and overcoming great temptation yet being an overcomer in everything. God rewarded Joseph’s great integrity, loyalty and faithfulness to His God Who was and did exceedingly beyond all Joseph could ask or imagine (Eph.3:20). He was exalted from the prison to the palace, from the sheep fold to being “vice-president” in a foreign land and from a nobody to a hero in Egypt, to surrounding nations and, in fulfillment of a dream, to his own family. Please read Genesis 37-50. It will blow your mind! It is full of dreams come true, cruelty, betrayal, great persecution, temptation, adventure, intrigue and everything an exciting story could be. See for yourself how God used a young boy (probably about 17) who was willing to serve others, even his enemies. Therefore, God exalted him to be a ruler in a foreign land. We are told in I Pet.5:6 that “if we humble ourselves before God, He will exalt us.”

Our aspirations should be to have a servant’s heart like Jesus’ not aspiring to be a leader and be served. He told us in Matt.20:26&27 that He came to serve, not be served and we should follow His example. If we wish to be great we must first have a servant’s heart and serve others. God doesn’t call us to be leaders but to be servants. If we don’t have the attitude of a servant God will never exalt us to greatness in His kingdom. If we exalt ourselves to greatness He will bring us down – this is called “pride” (Prov.16:18-19). On the other hand, if we have a humble attitude God will exalt us in His time (Matt.23:12).

Back to Joseph – To have such a servant’s heart from his youth Joseph must have been taught from an early age that a real man is a servant to others. And he also must have realized that Jehovah God was sovereign and in control of everything in his life and in the world. He had an awesome reverence for God and knew his own insignificance comparatively. He must have known in his heart that God had a plan for and would reveal it in His time (Jer.29:11).

We are never too young or old to learn these principals. If we love the Lord, our God, with all our heart (innermost being), soul (mind, will & emotions) and mind (intellect) (Deut.6:5) and our neighbor (all others) as much as ourselves (Matt.22:37&38) we will, by virtue of God’s work in our hearts, have a humble servant’s heart.

Not everyone has a “gift” of service but everyone should have a servant’s heart. When you are serving in love, especially the downtrodden, you are serving Jesus (Matt.25:40). The greatest pitfall in serving is a wrong attitude, even in our giving of any kind of service – money, time, energy, love, etc.:
1) not to be seen of men (Matt.6:2,5,16),
2) not to receive back (Luke 6:30-31,
3)out of plenty, not sacrificially (Mk.12:41-44),
4) grudgingly (IICor.9:6&7).

“Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart” (ISam.16:7). Remember God sees and judges our motives (Heb.4:12). So whatever we do in thought, word or deed, do all to the glory of God with a pure heart (IPet.1:22), (ICor.10:31). Giving of ourself is serving. Do we have a servant’s heart?


Give Of Your Best To The Master
Charlotte Barnard

Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example; Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion, Give Him the best that you have

Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above;
Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration, Give Him the best that you have.


Mary Jones