“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings…”
Hebrews 13:7-9a
The writer calls for his audience to remember their leaders who have spoken to them the Word of God, to consider the outcome of their lives, and to imitate their faith. The author then declares that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, the audience should not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.
What then about these leaders was worth remembering them about? What of them was worth analyzing and imitating? How do I know these leaders would not push and point me down paths of “diverse and strange teachings”?
Simply, the answer is that these people spoke God’s Word and lived by it. No mention of charisma, wealth, popularity, or social standing. No mention of remarkable rhetoric or need for dramatic presentations. Why? Because the Word of God is enough to ground one in truth and sufficient to establish one in a faithful lifestyle. In fact, it is the key to such a thing.
After all, the Scriptures point to Christ, who according to verse eight, is the same in the past, present, and future. Jesus Christ is eternally faithful and consistent. Therefore, to be grounded in the Teachings of Christ, the Bible, is to be rooted in Christ, a man in whom “there is no shadow of turning.” These leaders were worth imitating because they were glued to, guided with, and guarded by God through His Word.
Thus, as I seek to sustain my soul, lead my wife (and our firstborn soon to come), love my neighbor, and contribute to my local church, I must remember that people in my life don’t ultimately need my personality. They don’t ultimately need my opinion. All that people really need from me is the faithful teaching and living out of the Scriptures, for in Them is the truth – the truth which establishes a consistent, godly lifestyle that encourages others to do the same and yields all manner of praise to the Glory of God and His Kingdom. Cast yourself upon Christ and His Word, and you will always find consistency and faithfulness.