Have Confidence

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 no benefit to you. ~ Hebrews 13:17

It’s important to note that this verse is specifically a biblical instruction regarding our church leaders and how we are to submit to them; so please do not confuse this instruction with our political leaders.  While there are plenty of verses that encourage us to submit to other forms of authority, this verse is in context to church leaders including, but not limited to our priest, ministers and pastors.  Shepherds of the church.  While you may not always see eye to eye with your church leaders, or pastor, we should always respect them and have confidence that God put them in those roles for a reason.  One day they will have to give an account to God on how well they followed His directions regarding His people, and they will be judged more harshly than the rest of us.  We would benefit greatly by honoring, praying for, and revering our leaders.  You may not always agree with them, but you are called to honor them, and let God take care of the rest.  They will be judged on how they led and we will be judged on how we followed; let’s not make it harder for them.  They could use our encouragement, and need it now more than ever in this broken world.  The responsibility to watch over our spiritual care is a heavy one and as followers we should try to make it a joyous job for our church leaders instead of one filled with grief and strife.  Developing a spirit of submission does not mean blindly following.  Biblical submission is honoring those leaders who are aligned with God’s word and following them in their vision for you and the church while learning from them.  If they are not aligned with God’s word, and unfortunately this does happen, do not blindly follow them as they may be a false prophet.  We also must remember that our ultimate authority is God and we should be submitting to His plans for our life while living for Him.  Let us be quick to be our church leaders and pastors’ biggest cheerleaders.  They have a tremendous job and could use all our honor, help and support. ~ Amen