Day 286 – Obey Your Leaders

Today’s reading for study: Hebrews 13

In the closing chapter of Hebrews, twice the author says for the faithful to obey their leaders:

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7

And

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for 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. Hebrews 13:17

Both these verses make clear that these are spiritual, not secular leaders. Further, we are called to “imitate their faith”.  Imitation implies action.  Again, refuting the idea of “faith alone”, for we cannot imitate what is in their hearts and minds except by imitating their actions.  This obedience to our spiritual leaders is to be done with an attitude of joy.  For if you do it begrudgingly you gain nothing from it.

Two other verses in this chapter are particularly interesting.  First, the opening verses:

Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.  Hebrews 13:1-2

When you think about it, that is a mind-blowing revelation.  It implies that Angels are regularly taking human form and mixing among us.  No doubt to help us on our journey but also in a certain way to test us and see if we are living out the teachings of the gospel.

Second is this verse:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

This is an unequivocal statement that Jesus Christ is God.  However, it implies something else that is apologetically important.  Since God cannot change then the teachings of Jesus (the Word) and the revelation of the Holy Spirit (the scripture) cannot change.  Those things must also be the same “yesterday, today and forever”.  This is vitally important to help determine if you are in a Church that is truly teaching the Gospel.  Only the Catholic Church can point to continuously consistent teaching from its inception until today.

Tomorrow’s: 2 Tim 1