Village Schools of the Bible

Hebrews 13:17-19 - Obedience in Prayer

17) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18) Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19) I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. (NIV)

Hello, my friend. What a privilege, year after year, to be reminded of the heart of the Christian message: CHRIST IS ALIVE AND WE ARE ALIVE IN HIM. Here at the Village Schools, we want to wish you a very blessed Easter celebration, reminding us of that great verse in 2 Corinthians 5:15: He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again! Hallelujah!!!

We are now about to jump into the month of April and it's springtime in many parts of America. And with springtime comes preparing and planting and sensing great expectations of the fruit of our labor. And one of the things that characterizes any garden or farm is that the owner "keeps watch over it." That phrase is filled with a sense of both accountability as well as anticipation.

We find that very phrase in our reading for today. We are told in vs. 17 to "obey your leaders.. submit to their authority. They keep watch over you!" And this may strike one as being an unusual command. To submit to the authority of someone else is a strong commitment and it implies two things. First of all, my desire to be led into new fields of growth and of service, in walking in the Light, as Christ is in the Light (I John 1:7). And that verse promises that in doing that we will have "fellowship with each other."

That is in a sense what discipling is all about. It is not a casual truth that the last command our Lord gave was "going into all the world, make disciples." (Matt.28:19). So secondly, instructing me to submit to my leaders can logically raise the question, "Why should I do this?" And the answer is in vs. 17 where it says leaders "must keep watch over you as men who must give an account." This is a perfect description of an elder, a person who is responsible for members of the Body, to keep watch over them. And they will have to give an account to the Lord for the way they did this. And they can do this only insofar as I "obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to me." (vs.17). Isn't that small verse filled with great instruction? I am instructed to obey my leaders because they are keeping watch over me, and will have to give an account for the way they do this. What a blessing to be cared for!!!

Then the writer, in verses 18 and 19, pleads that the believers would pray for him. He makes a moving statement by saying, "We are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to live honorably in every way." What a tremendous evidence of an awareness of complete forgiveness, which brings about a clear conscience. Past failures, sins, denials have been forgiven, and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Not merely forgiven but cleansed, with a new heart, a new slate, a new walk, a new vision of God and His Glory. Ponder this truth, and rejoice in its implications.

We need to remind ourselves, my friend, of this basic truth which underlies the meaning of GRACE: His mercies are new every morning, and as I walk in the light I can enjoy constant fellowship with Him. All barriers are down, all failures forgiven and forgotten, all guilt removed and all burdens borne by the Lord who loves and keeps and satisfies. Because of Grace we can obey the command, "Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7, 10). "And the God of all Grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen" And so the writer reminds us that prayer is the key to fellowship, and prayer is the key to restoration (13:19). What a measureless provision of God's Grace is ours in Christ.

"Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are both the giver of Grace and the provision of all our needs. We praise you with all our being." I trust you have entered into this great resurrection truth, my friend. Grateful for your prayerful fellowship in Christ.

Cheerio. Monty