Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Heb. 13:7)
“The preaching that this world needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking with Jesus Christ” (D. L. Moody). Take a moment and think of the pastors who have influenced your life. What is the gem about them that is easiest to recall? The time they spent with you? Their jokes from the pulpit? The way they loved their families? The way they explained the Scriptures to the people attending worship? The way they lived the Word?
The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to imitate the faith of their religious leaders. These leaders imitated the unchanging Jesus Christ. He is the same stellar example many of these leaders had seen when he was on earth (the “yesterday” of verse 8). The messages these leaders had preached about Christ were true then and they are true today. And the promises Christ gave to these leaders will forever be true. These leaders did not have to worry that the Leader they were imitating would fail them. He was genuine and changeless.
Some of the leaders you recalled may have failed or disappointed you. However, if we keep our eyes on who Christ was when on earth, who he is now, and his promises to us, we never need to worry that he will fail us. He is rock-solid and consistent. We are to imitate him.
Imitate Christ today in your thoughts, words, and interactions.
Gena Duncan teaches Bible classes in her church. She and her husband spend summers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and winters in Naples, Florida.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
