Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Acknowledge those who labor among you, and who rule over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them as highly as possible in love because of their work.”
Paul, in 1Thessalonians 5:12–13
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God; imitate their faith . . . . Obey those who rule over you, and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls, as those who must render an account.”
Hebrews 13:7a, 17a
Sometimes, people are uncertain as to who really is “over them in the Lord”. They are willing to do as Paul said to do toward elders in the faith, but they don’t know for sure whose faith to follow, whose admonishments they should receive (false teachers sometimes admonish saints for doing right), and whom “to esteem as highly as possible in love because of their work.” God’s humble people want to know whose faith to follow and whose teaching to receive. It is easy to find out who is President of the country, or Governor of the state, or Mayor of the city, and so forth. Everyone in the world seems to know what the laws are, even if they break them. But God’s children want to know who is who in Christ, whose commandments to obey and whose authority to submit to, in the kingdom of God.
Here is one way you can always tell who is “over you in the Lord”: Whoever is over you in the Lord is genuinely happier for you to be blessed than you are yourself.