Example

Example

Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.

Hebrews 13:7

This short verse is packed with three instructions involving the past, the present, and the future. First, “Remember your leaders”—the ones who spoke God’s Word to you. I am thankful for childhood memories of Pastor and Mrs. Rushing, the Browns, the Heggelands, my parents, Mary Waldo, Jacky Riley, the Bevers, Roger and Jan Creamer, the Thompsons, the Anchas, and more. From my adult years I think of Beth Raney, Jack and Theo Robinson, Kent and Barbara Hughes, and others from whom I have heard God’s Word. None of these people are perfect, but I am grateful they have been faithful in their lives and in their commitment to teach God’s Word, whether it was in a children’s Sunday school class, a youth group, a Bible study, or a Sunday morning worship service. Who has had a significant spiritual influence in your life?

“Think of all the good that has come from their lives.” To the best of my knowledge, the leaders I mentioned above have continued to walk with God. Unfortunately, this is not the case with all leaders who call themselves Christians, and such a change can be devastating to people who have sat under their teaching. If the outcome of a leader’s life is spiritually ugly, disobedient, or rebellious, it’s difficult to follow the third instruction.

“Trust the Lord as they do” or, as the NIV says, “Imitate their faith.” Imitating involves copying, duplicating, or mirroring. This verse is sobering for those of us who are in positions of leadership—whether we’re moms, youth leaders, teachers, or Bible study leaders. Is our faith worth imitating? If they’re not old enough already, our children will someday be remembering, considering, and imitating our faith.

Father,

May we be good examples to our children, their friends, and all those over whom we’re in leadership. May we remember that they will be remembering us, considering us, and imitating us. Amen.