Who have you allowed to speak into your life? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our SUNDAY BEST series with a message about the gift of shepherds.
Hebrew 13:17
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.
As the writer of Hebrews concludes his letter, he turns his attention to spiritual leaders, and gives us several things to reflect on:
1) Our embarrassing need for shepherds.
We never graduate from being sheep. Sheep need a shepherd, and the Bible is clear that we need encouragement, correction and guidance from shepherds in our lives.
2) God’s surprising commitment to shepherds.
Nearly everyone has experienced disappointment with a leader in their lives. Still, God remains committed to the idea of shepherding through imperfect people.
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Our “peers in grace” are qualified to speak into our lives because they see what we cannot. Those called and gifted as leaders must give an account for their work.
3) The Great Shepherd who leads us home.
The only way to find the right balance with leaders in our lives is to lean into our relationship with the Great Shepherd. Jesus laid his life down for us, and when we receive our validation and significance from him, we can be blessed by the gift of other shepherds in our lives!
