HONOR godly spiritual leaders! … BE a godly spiritual leader worthy of honor!
“Remember you leaders who have spoken God’s word to you! Carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith! … Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief! …Have a clear conscience, conduct yourself honorably in everything!” (From Hebrews 13:7, 17-19 CSB)
A “Sip” from “Coffee with the Lord” as I finish reading and reflecting on Hebrews 11… There are “a host of witnesses” telling us that an effective, successful, and fruitful “walk of faith” is possible… “It works!” they declare! And they urge us to, “lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us and to run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith!” (From Hebrews 12:1-2) With God’s help and Christ’s example I purpose to do it… REGARDLESS of the obstacles and challenges!
“Etc… ETCETERA: used at the end of a list to indicate that further, similar items are included.”
“And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead, raised to life again…
“Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
“All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.” (Hebrews 11:32-40 CSB)
So what is “faith” good for? … Living, enduring, dealing with ALL that life brings – the good, the bad, the pleasant and unpleasant, plenty and poverty, pain and suffering… all – “etc” … “BY FAITH” – just having confidence in God! What a way to “live life!”