Remember Your Leaders

Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:7

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

As young and weak Christians, we ought to be humble in our conduct and attitude towards others. Too often are we big-hearted and consider our faith well off. Christ came and called the disciples to follow Him. Christ called them to learn from Him. Of course, we are all disciples of Christ, and we must all take upon His yoke. However, at the end of Jesus’ ministry, He also commissioned His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

And so, this commission of discipleship is passed down from generation to generation as God continues to expand His kingdom through the ministry He entrusted to men. Peter, John, Paul went on to disciple the early churches in the way of Christ. Under their leadership, these disciples grew to “the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). For this reason, Christ gave “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). 

After these disciples matured in faith, they, in turn, began to disciple others. And as these new disciples grew in grace, they started to disciple the next generation of disciples. So, in such a manner, the kingdom of God is spread and continues to expand to this day. 

This means that we came to become followers of Christ because someone in this long chain of discipleship has, in turn, obeyed Christ’s commission and discipled us. This is how the spreading of God’s kingdom works. Therefore, as young new Christians, we must submit ourselves to our spiritual leaders and continually seek to learn from them. Faith is not only an individual matter. Do not fall into the trap of – God, my Bible and Me. We do not and will not grow in faith without the church and without spiritual leaders who disciple us in the way of Christ, which has been passed down from generation to generation. 

We must be humble and always ready to learn. We are in a long line of disciples who ultimately learn to follow Christ, our Lord. Let’s consider our place, and let us keep in step to follow our leaders, considering their way of life, and imitating their faith. 

Lord, thank You that our walk of faith is not alone. Thank You for the community in Your church, and thank You for the spiritual leaders you have placed in front of us. Teach us to be humble and teachable. As we grow in faith, give us the hearts of a disciple who are willing to submit to the authority You place over us, as we ultimately submit to Christ our Lord and Saviour. Thank You, God, In Jesus name, amen.