What should we remember when we obey ‘Remember your leaders’?
By Dean Collins
There are a lot of “to-dos” in Hebrews 13. It doesn’t sound like the author is suggesting we pick and choose which ones we want to do and which ones are for others. This isn’t a spiritual gifts list where we learn that we each are gifted by the Holy Spirit with particular abilities that may be different than another’s in the family of God. These directives are specific and for each of us to follow. They will deepen our faith, protect marriages from failure, expand our love for others, and help us endure hard times, even persecution. Here is the checklist from this chapter (verse numbers in parentheses):
Practice brotherly love (1)
Show hospitality to others (2)
Remember those in prison and those who are mistreated (3)
Honor marriage and do not participate in sexual immoral behaviors (4)
Don’t become a lover of money (5)
Be content with what you have (5)
Remember your leaders who taught you the Scriptures (7)
Consider the outcomes of your godly leaders and practice them (7)
Do not be led away by strange new teachings (9)
Be strengthened by grace, not by following your favorite rules (9)
Choose to endure suffering just as Jesus did for us (12,13)
Offer continual praise and worship to God (15)
Don’t neglect to do good and share sacrificially with others (16)
Submit to spiritual authorities joyfully and without resentment (17)
Pray for others, especially your leaders (18)
Imitate their faith
I want to focus on just one of these directives for a moment. Here is verse 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.”
There’s much discussion in business and industry about being “outcomes-driven.” Basically, this means we want products that work. If I’m having surgery I want to know the success rate of the surgeon on this particular procedure. I want to know the success rate of the new heart valve or hip that will be inserted into my body. We want to know the financial results of the person managing our money and of the funds where she places our investments. If there are not good outcomes, then we tend to pull back, reevaluate, and find a person, a business, or a doctor whose results match their promises.
Consider their lives
When Hebrews tells us to remember our spiritual leaders and teachers, the very next sentence says, “Consider the outcome of their way of life.” This means we should look at the life examples and outcomes, not simply the quality of their instruction.
I suspect some of those who taught you are no longer here but have received their reward in eternity. When you remember these mentors and teachers, I bet you remember the quality of their lives more than just the things they said. Many people can say something insightful or helpful. But the power of their words is proven by the integrity of their life.
It is tempting to get sucked into the media vortex of just paying attention to the sound bites we hear from someone. We like them. We agree with them. And without paying any attention to the person’s track record or character, we decide to follow them. It happens in politics, business, with celebrity figures, and sadly even with church leaders. Hebrews 13:7 gives us a litmus test. Look at their life, their character, their outcomes, and if they are consistent with God’s Word then do more than like them. Imitate them because they are imitating Jesus.
Lean on God
We can succeed in obeying all of the practical exhortations in chapter 13, but not on our own. You’ve likely figured that out as I have. Left alone or by my own strength, I soon stop, fail, or at best have mediocre results. But the writer of Hebrews gives a powerful prayer filled with the promise of the divine help that will get us the right results and ultimately change the world.
Here it is. Pray it now: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Your time with God’s Word
Hebrews 13:1-21 ESV
Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash
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