Devotion (The Trumpeter):
Honor your leaders in the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13KJV

  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them, which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Paul entreated the saints at Thessalonica to consider their leaders in the Lord, those who teach them the Word of God and esteem them highly in love.

This applies to any leader at any level teaching you the Word of God. The reason for the honor is not because of titles but for teaching you the Word. The emphasis is on the Word of God. Hence, this applies to general overseers, branch pastors, cell leaders, foundational class teachers etc. The question is “does the leader exhort you with the Word of God?”

Paul didn’t say, “esteem them” but “esteem them abundantly”.

If as a Christian, you can respect your supervisors, managers and CEO’s at work and you don’t respect your leaders in the Lord, it is a lack of wisdom.

It will take eternity and the second return of Jesus to fully understand what a blessing that anyone who has taught you the Word of God has been to you

God is no respecter of persons. The same way an abuse of office by Christian leaders will come with dire consequences, disrespecting leaders placed over you in the Lord has its upshot

Paul says,

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men……1 Thessalonians 5:14KJV”

Don’t be unruly

When old men and women humble themselves to be led by shepherds’ young enough to be their children, it is because they acknowledge them as God’s representatives.

Your honor of those who teach you the Word is a reflection of your value for the Word of God.

This is why Jesus said

 “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home….Mark 6:4KJV”

A prophet has honor.

When Paul wrote a letter of recommendation to Philemon to release Onesimus, one of the arguments he put forth was

“If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self…. Philemon:18-19KJV”

Paul said, “You owe me your very self”

Why did he say this to Philemon? This is because he was his spiritual father who brought him up in the things of God

How much will you pay for the Word of God? Is it millions or billions? No! You can’t pay. Therefore, honor those who teach you the Word of God.

God bless you!

Confession

I believe with my heart that Jesus is the very Son of God that He came to die for me and was raised up by God the Father. I confess Him as the Lord of my life from this day forward. Hallelujah!  I am born again