Capeless Heroes: A 7-Day Bible Reading PlanSample

Day 1: A World without Sidekicks

We see in verse 28 that, “Joshua ... had been Moses' aide since youth." Long before Joshua had a book named after him, he was Moses's “sidekick.” People didn't know him as just Joshua. He was Joshua, Moses's aide. His identity was wrapped up in the power and position of Moses. He must have felt like many other sidekicks, somewhat like an appendage of the more popular hero. No one thinks of Robin alone, it's always Batman and Robin.

Have you ever felt like that?

Are you known only as the "wife of," "friend of," "employee of," "child of"... so and so?

Do you feel like your identity is somehow an extension of someone else’s?

I’ve recently started collecting pictures of people wearing superhero-themed clothing. What's interesting to me is that no one dresses up as the sidekick. I regularly see Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman costumes. But no one seems to want to be Robin or Krypto the Superdog. Sidekicks don’t seem to get the same level of recognition and respect. Who wants to be Bucky Barnes when you can be Captain America?

Joshua eventually became a great leader, but he spent the majority of his life as Moses's personal attendant. He followed Moses's lead. He lived in Moses's shadow. And he didn’t mind it at all. Joshua had learned something that is easy for us to forget: leading starts with serving.

The best leaders first learn to follow. It's not just the "heroes" who save the day. In fact, the comic book world creates a false dichotomy. On one side are the heroes, villains, and sidekicks while on the other are the people who need to be rescued. In the real world, we are all needed to fulfill the essential roles God designed for us. We each get to be a hero in our own story, the story God has written.

So, don't let your position limit your mission.

Don't say, I'm just a student, secretary, barista, or janitor.

You are so much more than your job.

A hero is first and foremost about who you are, not what you do. That’s true whether you're known as Joshua, the aide to a spiritual giant like Moses, or Joshua, leader of God's people.

Action Step for Today:

Look for ways to make the “sidekicks” in your life feel valued. Learn your barista’s name. Give a gift card to your mail carrier. Double the tip to your server after dinner.