PROTECTION AND BLESSING

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

OUR TEXT SAYS that pastors and elders watch out for the souls of God’s people. To “watch out” is translated from the Greek word which means “sleepless.” The commission and authority of the pastor and elder is from God, and they are responsible to continually watch over Christ’s flock. The church belongs to Jesus Christ as He purchased her with His own blood. Yet pastors and elders are given the authority from God to care for the church in Christ’s stead. Our prayer should be that God would give us faithful pastors and elders who rule by serving the church, and church members who willingly and humbly submit to their rule. This is the avenue of peace in Christ’s church, and the key ingredient is humility. Humility means you don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but you think soberly (Rom. 12:3). When church members walk in humility then they willingly obey and submit to the authority of their church officers. And when the pastor and elders walk in humility, they willingly serve the congregation as loving shepherds of the flock who love, care for, and protect the people of Christ because Jesus said, “Tend My sheep!” (John 21:16)

THEREFORE, WHEN THE truth of God is taught by the pastor and elders, every church member has the Biblical responsibility to obey and submit to the truth. “For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). If we disagree with a ruling of the elders, godly submission requires that we humbly go to the elders and present our case rather than lead a rebellion against the officers of the church. There needs to be respect shown toward the office of pastor and elder as those who teach God’s Word and rule in the church. The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you” (Titus 2:15). To despise Titus would have been to despise Christ whose very word Titus taught and preached. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:16, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

OUR TEXT SAYS we should obey godly leaders because if you cause them grief, you cause yourself grief. In other words, obedience to godly church leaders is for your benefit. Disobedience to them “would be unprofitable for you.” God designed authority for protection and blessing, but if you disobey godly church leaders who proclaim God’s Word to you then you are ultimately disobeying God, and that always has serious consequences. Take time today to examine your heart on the issue of submission to those whom God has raised up to rule in His church for His honor, glory and praise.

Friday Devotional: January 31, 2025

In Christ,

Pastor S. Henry