Hebrews 13:17-19

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

The relationship between spiritual leaders and their congregations is of vital importance.  Scripture makes it clear that God establishes and removes leaders according to His sovereign will.  There are no perfect leaders just like there are no perfect congregations.  There are certain qualifications that leaders must meet and there are expectations that congregants should strive to attain.  This Passage points to the primary responsibilities of believers towards their spiritual leaders.

SUBMISSION: Obedience is one of the most difficult things for us to teach our children.  We all have our own will and opinion about how we would prefer things be done.  When leaders make decisions that are not in line with our will and opinion, it can easily create difficulty and animosity towards that leader.  When that occurs, the Bible calls us to be obedient and submissive.  The fact that they have been established by God as our leaders should assure us that they have our best interest at heart.  They have been entrusted with the responsibility of caring for our souls.  They will give an account before the Lord according to their faithfulness.  We should do all that we can to make their very difficult job easier.  We cannot be begrudging or obstinate in our response to them.  Submission should be done with a sweet spirit or it in not really submission.

SUPPLICATION: If we are not satisfied with the way that our leaders are serving in the body, our first response should be to pray for them.  If we are pleased with the way our leaders serve, we should respond with prayer.  Our prayers are of great value to the leaders God has placed over us and very valuable to them and to us.  Prayer is an instrument of change in the hands of our Lord.  He changes us and our attitudes as we are faithful to pray.  He may change our circumstances or even other in response to our prayers according to His will.  The author of Hebrews is seen as a leader in this congregation and requests prayer that he could be restored to them.  It is likely that the author has been taken away from them physically because of persecution.  There may be false accusations being spread about him.  He has a clear conscience and is striving to act in ways that honor the Lord.  However, he needs the support of their prayers.

APPLICATION: Follow our leaders with a good attitude and gratitude to the Lord for them.  Lead those under our responsibility out of a true desire to feed their souls.  Understand that we will all give an account before the Lord as to how we have followed and led.  Pray from a sincere heart for all who are established by God as our leaders.  Pray that they will have a sensitive conscience before the Lord, live in a way that honors Him, and be protected from the evil schemes of Satan.

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