Submit to authority

 8 Dec 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Submit to authority

The task of church leaders is to help people mature in Christ. Cooperative followers greatly ease the burden of leadership. Does your conduct give your leaders reason to report joyfully about you?


“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

———————-

Reflections

Perhaps this verse should be the number one focus for every mission trip. Maybe people may still have problems obeying authority, trying to be “Indian chiefs”, trying to take control and ride over their leaders, perhaps only till the time they become leaders themselves and they will want this verse fulfilled. It’s a common thing isn’t it?


I think somehow humans have this doubtful nature, or distrust in their leaders. Perhaps due to their past experiences or bad memories that are making them this way. But I felt no matter what, we, as the ones who obey, should and ought to give grace and a chance to the leaders to take charge, instead of trying to tell them what to do. 


In the bible, it is also shared, that we ought to submit to authority, ought to trust in the God’s anointed. To doubt your leader is also doubting God’s choice. Do you dare? And what makes us think that we are definitely right? I would say it is good to share good practices or knowledge but never in an intimidating way. 


At times, I am also being reminded that leaders are also human. Everyone is flawed. There’s no perfect leaders, not even perfect followers. So as followers, we ought to give grace and just trust our leaders. They would, like this verse says, that they keep watch you as those who must give an account and help them make their work a joy, not a burden.

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