“Your spiritual journey is never meant to take place in isolation.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 1, 2024
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17, NIV
One of the greatest enemies of spiritual health is a self-directed faith that seeks little to no input from others. Of course, this is a natural temptation to which we all fall prey from time to time! In most areas of life, we are the only ones who look out for ourselves and our futures. Yes, we may have friends or family who invest in us and offer wise counsel or advice, but at the end of the day, “ownership” of our story falls squarely upon our own shoulders.
While this may be true of things like careers and education, this is not the way the spiritual life is meant to work. In fact, as we see in Hebrews 13, God gives the gift of pastors and leaders within the church so that they may “keep watch over you.” Let the truth of that statement sink in. Your spiritual journey is never meant to take place in isolation. By design, there are others who care for your story and invest in your spiritual health as much as you do, and at times even more! When you are weak or wandering, they are there to hold your story with care and compassion. And when you feel strong and equipped to run the race, they are there cheering you on and teaching you how to faithfully direct that energy and passion.
It is for this reason that Hebrews exhorts you to “have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority.” Of course, this is a confidence that often takes a lifetime to build and, as many of us have painfully experienced, can be shattered in an instant. However, the shortcomings and brokenness of flawed leaders should never cause us to throw the entire relational structure out the window! The most faithful and trustworthy leaders keep the words of Hebrews 13 close to their hearts, keeping watch over those under their care “as those who must give an account.” Every leader worthy of our submission is keenly aware of their own status as an accountable servant, leading only in ways that point their spiritual children to their true and perfect Father in heaven.
Rather than being a source of oppression or manipulation, a spiritual leader is a God-given source of liberating joy. They remind us daily that we do not have to carry the burdens of life alone! And so, give thanks today for the leaders in your life, and have confidence in them, even as they place their hope in the Lord.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the joy of leaders who guide us to your truth. We speak blessing over them today, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Application
Give thanks to the Lord for the leaders he has placed in your life.
Related Reading
Isaiah 62:6; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7
Worship Resource
The Worship Initiative feat. Shane & Shane: As the Deer
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