July 31, 2025 | Be God's Family
Remember Your Leaders
Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-10(NIV)
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Devotional
"Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
Do you ever look back on your life and think about the things that occupied so much of your time and energy back then but mean nearly nothing to you now? Do you have any regrets about things you wish you'd done more of back then, but it is too late now?
Today's passage challenges us to look at the people who were Godly influences in our lives and "consider the outcome of their way of life." When I do that, a long list of names comes to mind. My list starts with my parents of course, Sunday School teachers like Mrs. Dwelle, and the pastor of my confirmation and high school years Stu Stephens. Thankfully, my parents are still with us, but I picture the broad smiles of Mrs. Dwelle and Pastor Stu as they met Jesus and He told them about the impact they probably never realized they had on a group of snot-nosed kids like us.
I know you are reading this devotional at the end of July, but I am writing this just days after Linda Williams' passing. I can just hear her hitting the high notes in the heavenly choir as she finds out just how many people came to Him after being served in the Pantry. They thought it was the worst experience of their lives when they had to come to the pantry for help after a job loss or unexpected bills arrived. They came in for food and they left with the Bread of Life.
Today's passage challenges us to "imitate their faith" of our spiritual heroes. Measuring up to them seems like quite a tall order. But the Bible does not ask us to "just do it," it tells us to start by imitating them.
The challenge of our verse is to invest our lives in others today in a way that will be worthy of imitation by those who come after us.
Poem
Hegemosin ἡγεμόσιν
Psalm 73
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Psalm 73:24
Let us now pray for leaders who do wisely point to You
Who give encouragement and truth
Full grounded in Your word
O give them great discernment as they lead Your people daily
As they intercede, administer
And speak with Spirit’s sword
Remind me, Lord, to lift them up, to hold their arms in battle
For I not know the weight they bear
Nor wounds they have incurred
