Wednesday, August 24, 2011
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
CALLED TO ... RESPECT
Paul says we ought to get to know our spiritual leaders. After all, how can we really show them our respect and appreciation if we don't interact with them? These are hard working people sent to watch over us by Christ. They are our teachers.
Paul describes some of the many spiritual leaders that Christ give us in Ephesians 4: " ... Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Our spiritual leaders aren't perfect in their service. They have their faults, failings, sins, etc. but in Christ we are called to respect them because HE is the one who has sent them to build us up. They are doing HIS work among HIS people.
How can you show respect for the spiritual leaders God has sent to you?
