I've been thinking about Hebrews chapter 13. Every sincere believer in Christ
takes seriously the moral commands in the first 6 verses: brotherly love, hospitality
to strangers, compassion for the suffering (especially fellow believers who
suffer for their faith), purity in the marriage relationship, contentment with
finances & trust in God’s provision. As moral commands, these are not
something we can take or leave according to our personal wishes.
They
are followed by something else that seems to also be a moral command, one that
must be followed by disciples: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word
of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their
faith. Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 7:7-8).
Believers
are to remember those who brought God’s Word to them, consider seriously how
they lived, & imitate the way they lived. Verse 8 indicates that Jesus
Christ continues to work, raising up new leaders in every generation.
But
this is not the only reference to leaders in this chapter. While verse 7 refers
to former ones, verse 17 refers to current ones: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your
souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with
grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
As
believers, we must strive to be content, pure, compassionate, & generous. We must also be conscientious to obey & submit to the spiritual leaders
whom God has placed over us.
What
specific things will you do this week to honor your leaders & to
demonstrate that you are following them as an act of worship to the Lord?
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