Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
The writer of Hebrews is ending a letter and seems to have a lot to say at the end. The writer squeezes in every important point that shouldn’t be forgotten. One of the important points squeezed in before the letter to the Hebrews ends, is a point on leadership. The writer urges the readers to remember their leaders. Why is leadership so important that a note on it has to be squeezed in the close remarks of this letter to Hebrews?
A position of leadership exposes one to in-depth scrutiny by friends and foes alike. A position of leadership generates enemies for many reasons including being disliked for no reason at all. The higher the leadership the more lonely it gets as many below wouldn’t want to be seen as associating with the leader lest they receive blows on your behalf by haters. Many times leaders end their assignments feeling they were never appreciated or they made a mistake to accept the work. Leaders eventually react to their reality by retreating and can easily be forgotten. The writer of Hebrews pleads with the church to remember the leaders.
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Remember your leaders who may be retired and suffering. Remember your leaders who could be struggling with depression silently. Remember your leaders who were fired or transferred. Remember your leaders who have been scandalized. Remember your leaders who are dealing with bad publicity. Remember your leaders who suddenly went quiet. Remember your leaders, is a command to the entire church. Remember your leaders!
Remember your leaders by praying for them. Remember your leaders by appreciating them. Remember your leaders by celebrating them. Remember your leaders by visiting them. Remember your leaders by helping them. Remember your leaders by restoring them if they fell in sin. Remember your leaders by encouraging them. Remember your leaders!
The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that we should consider the leaders’ way of life. Learn from their mistakes and be encouraged by the leaders’ right living. Consider the outcome of their way of life. The focus is on the outcome. The doctrine may be right but consider the outcome of their way of life.
The writer of Hebrews finally tells us to imitate their faith. Imitate the faith, not life. Faith will produce a lifestyle. Do not imitate the lifestyle, just imitate the faith. Faith generated the lifestyle, therefore imitate the faith.
Imitate their faith after considering the outcome of their life. If you like the outcome of their life, then imitate their faith. Leaders have to ask themselves what is the outcome of their lives? The outcome is at the end. There is a daily interim end and a real end when ministry or life or both ends. In the daily interim end, what is the outcome of your life? At the final end of your time and service, what is the outcome of your life? Imitate their faith and consider the outcome of their life!
Do not imitate their dressing. Do not imitate their ministry style. Do not imitate their voice. Do not imitate their gestures. Do not imitate their levels of education. Do not imitate their marriage and parenting life. Do not imitate these things for they are a product of faith or lack of it. If you like the outcome of these things, then you can also get them by imitating their faith. Things are born of faith or lack of it. Imitate their faith after considering the outcome of their life!
Dear God, grant me a faith that can be imitated because it has produced a desirable outcome of life and ministry. May I never forget my leaders who spoke the word of God to me, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen. 🙏🙏
Amen
Amen. Faith is the foundation/source of what is seen. Thank you brother. May it be so unto you too.
Amen
Amen mchungaji!! Please find time to talk about the book of Galatians 4:4 “the fullness of”
Be blessed
Fullness of time
Noted sir!
Insightful.
Amen
Hallelujah!
God willing we will talk about it…
Faith is the victory hence I need to imitate just that great faith.
Blessings to the Doctor!
Glory to God!
Amen.
Thank you and God bless you pastor.
Hallelujah!
Amen
Amen
Leadership is one technical phase in a human life and calls for prayers indeed. Be blessed pastor
Blessings on you!