Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 16
Sunday


WHY CAUSE
GRIEF?

READ:
Hebrews 13:17-19
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Obey those who
rule over you,...
for they watch out for
your souls.
__Hebrews 13:17
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Pastors make an easy target for criticism. Every week they are on display, carefully explaining God's Word, challenging us toward Christlike living. But sometimes we look to find things to criticize. It's easy to overlook all the good things a pastor does and focus on our personal opinions.

Like all of us, our pastors are not perfect. So I'm not saying that we should follow them blindly and never confront error through the proper channels. But some words from the writer of Hebrews may help us find the right way of thinking about our leaders who are presenting God's truth and modeling servant leadership. The writer says, "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account" (13:17) NIV).

Think about that. Before God, our pastor is responsible for guiding us spiritually. We should want that burden to be joyous, not grievous. The passage indicates that causing grief for the pastor "would be of no benefit" (v.17) NIV).

We honor God and make things better for our church when we give honor to those He has appointed as our leaders.
__Dave Branon

```````````````````Our gracious father, thank You for the person`````````````````````
``````````````````You led to our church as pastor. May we provide```````````````````
`````````````````encouragement and support, and may You protect```````````````````
```````````````````our pastor from error in both word and actions.```````````````````
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Pastors who preach God's Word
need a good word from God's people.

***********************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 13:17-19****************************
17 Obey those who rule
over you, and be
submissive, for they watch
out for your souls, as those
who must give account. Let
them do so with joy and not
with grief, for that would be
nonprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we are
confident that we have a
good conscience, in all
things desiring to live
honorably. 19 But I
especially urge you to do
this, that I may be restored
to you the sooner.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The relationship between spiritual leaders and followers can
sometimes become troubled. Today's reading reminds us that
maintaining a cooperative spirit is necessary in order to benefit
from those who provide spiritual direction for us. Our first response
shold be prayerful submission: "Obey those who rule over you, and
be submissive" (Heb. 13:17). But other passages of Scripture also
emphasize a heart of servant leadership in those who provide us with direction:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master;
nor he who is sent greater than he who sent him"
(John 13:16). For both leaders and followers, an attitude of mutual
submission should prevail: We are to "[submit] to one another in the
fear of God" (Eph. 5:21).