Colossians 2:1 “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh”.
Do we realise that those who lead us, teach us, and motivate us go through great conflict and anguish for our souls?
Are we aware that they seek God on behalf of our souls day and night?
True leaders in the kingdom are not self-seeking, but others-seeking. They strive for one thing and one thing only: making sure we keep the faith and get home to be with the Lord, despite all the circumstances, conflicts, and the personal cost to them.
Their whole focus is God’s word and prayer as was the apostles’, Acts 6:4. They delve deep into the heart of God for us so we will grow up in the things of the Lord. They stay near to God for us so they can be continually filled with His Spirit to minister to us, Exodus 33:11. They neglect their lives for us. They neglect their families for us. Yet, too often we demand more and more of them rather then learning how to draw near to God ourselves and hear His calling for our lives.
Let us be encouraged to not neglect our leaders, but get closer to them and understand their roles in God’s kingdom. Let us not continually wonder why our elders and preachers don’t visit us too often; let us visit or telephone them for a change. Let’s not wait for them to tell us they are praying for us; let’s tell them we are praying for them so they have the strength to continue in the ministries of the kingdom. Let’s not choose the farthest seat from the podium, but the closest so as to encourage them.
Most of all let us hear and practice what they have to say from the word of God so that we do not end up locking Jesus out of our lives like the Laodicean disciples did when they fell in love with the mammon of their world. Remember, they went on to embraced God socially, not seriously and trusted in their wealth and health, not their Lord and Saviour, Revelation 3:14-22.
Let us take a moment today to pray and encourage our leaders, realising they are God’s servants called and appointed by Him to watch on behalf of our souls, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.
