Obey your leaders and submit to
them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so
that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be
unprofitable for you.
Leadership is given by God. And
leadership is hard work. It takes courage
and sacrifice and determination and thick skin.
Yet this passage isn’t about providing leadership, it’s about following
leadership.
Listen to what God is saying here.
Obey your leaders and submit to them.
Yep. The Bible says that. In a culture that is fiercely independent and
proud of it, God calls us to obey and submit.
Obey and submit. Many think they
are both 4-letter words. But not in
God’s economy. Obedience and submission
to authority is ultimately how we show God we trust Him. The level of obedience in our life and the
submissive posture of our hearts towards leadership reveals either our maturity
or immaturity.
Jesus, the perfect Leader – God Himself – modeled perfect submission to
God as He submitted to wicked and evil authorites to the point of death on a
cross. How small a challenge Jesus has
given us to follow those who love us.
And look at the tremendous blessing that is ours as we obey and submit
to church leaders – “FOR they keep watch over your souls as those who will give
an account.” It’s true. God has put shepherd elders in the life of
the church to guide and protect and pray for and lead you and they will answer
to God for their leadership. What a
blessing it is to know that godly leaders bring your name and needs and cares
and concerns into the presence of God regularly! What a blessing to know that God has put
godly leaders into your life to encourage, confront, and cheer you on in your
pursuit of Jesus.
God, in my heart I confess I am a rebel. I don’t naturally want to listen to
anyone. Apart from Your grace in my
life, I would still try and be my own god, to my shame, sadness, and
judgment. Yet, You modeled perfect submission
and were blessed by the Father for Your unwavering obedience. And now You desire to love me by leading me
through others. Lord, today I want to
show my trust and love for You by my obedience and submission to the shepherd
elders of Candeo. Help me to make their
leadership a joy. Give them courage to
lead Your church in Your strength, to be men full of the Holy Spirit, to Your
glory and for my protection and joy. Amen.
