Hebrews 13:17-19
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
We are to follow the God-given authorities (Hebrews 13:7) in the house of God as long as they follow Him in their words and deeds. They are put in place by God for His people, and should be honored as such while we consider that they are accountable to God for their spiritual leadership and teaching (James 3:1-2). For our part, we should not make it more difficult for them by disobedience and contrariness, but by joyfully learning and taking direction to heart in true godly submission to Christ in and through them, not to the men themselves. If we grieve those leaders by kicking against the goads, we only generate sadness and not edification (Ephesians 4:11-16). As a body, we all have differing functions, and parts serve others to make the whole; let us work better together within His body, of which Christ is the head. Therefore we should live with honor and conscience to God and men, realizing the urging of God’s word to do these things as we submit our pride to His order and service.
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