“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Every member of the body of Christ is responsible to do his or her part in the building up of the body. Of course, not every part does the same thing. Read all about this in 1 Corinthians 12. There Paul specifies how we each are part of the body of Christ with different callings.
Within the organization of the church, God calls some members of the body to have authority over other members of the body. But how are those of us under authority to treat those who exercise authority over us? Paul says leaders should receive respect. Seems like a given, doesn’t it? Then he urges us to take that even farther, telling us to esteem our leaders highly in love.
The work of our pastors, elders, and deacons is nothing less than to minister the Word of God to us in preaching, rule, and tangible service. As the leaders of our churches, they are the doctors for our souls. They are not above God, but they are used by Him for us. They are, as Paul says, some of the gifts of grace that we receive from Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-13).
Within the organization of the church, God calls some members of the body to have authority over other members of the body. But how are those of us under authority to treat those who exercise authority over us? Paul says leaders should receive respect. Seems like a given, doesn’t it? Then he urges us to take that even farther, telling us to esteem our leaders highly in love.
The work of our pastors, elders, and deacons is nothing less than to minister the Word of God to us in preaching, rule, and tangible service. As the leaders of our churches, they are the doctors for our souls. They are not above God, but they are used by Him for us. They are, as Paul says, some of the gifts of grace that we receive from Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-13).
Scripture Focus
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18
Insight
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you…. Obey them so that their work will be a joy.” (Hebrews 13:17)
Bible In A Year
- 2 Kings 17
- Proverbs 19
- 1 John 3-4
