Tuesday, September 13
Who is watching over your soul?
Scripture: Isaiah 25-26, Psalm 106, Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Observation
The author concludes his letter with a series of instructions, including these two about relating to their spiritual leaders.
Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you…and imitate their faith. This is consistent with Paul’s instructions in various places to imitate Christian leaders—see 1 Corinthians 4:15-17, 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9. Much of disciple-making and spiritual formation happens by imitation—see and do; see and be.
Obey and submit to your leaders—they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Don’t make their work difficult or grievous by refusing to obey and submit. Spiritual leaders who care for you and want you to thrive are worth following.
Application
For years, I’ve read these verses as a spiritual leader; this morning I read them as a follower—as the author’s word to me.
I thought first of Noel and Roy—my two pastors, one very close and personal, the other as an example of leadership. I still remember them and imitate their faith.
Then I thought of my current spiritual leaders—my pastor, Michael, and our leadership team; my supervisor, Dave and regional leader, Dave. I love and respect them all and find it easy to obey and submit to them. I know they care for me.
But then this thought: who is watching over my soul? It’s true that all the leaders I mentioned above do to some degree. But mostly Michael because I meet with him weekly and we have honest conversation. He knows the state of my soul.
True soul care requires proximity and time. I was asked yesterday by a pastor friend if I would meet with him regularly as a mentor/coach, and the first question he wants me to ask is “How is your soul?”. Besides Michael, I have a couple friends that ask me questions like that—friends who “watch over my soul.”
Who is watching over your soul?
Who is close enough to you to ask you the hard and honest questions—regularly?
If you don’t have someone, ask someone to do that. We all need it!
Prayer: Lord, I’m so grateful for the spiritual leaders you’ve placed in my life—both now and in the past. Help me imitate their faith and make their job easy! Thanks for those who watch over my soul. Help me to offer that kind of care for others.