Love Your Leaders - 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thess 5:12,13)

Do you love your spiritual leaders? I think that I know the answer to that question. However, at times it is somewhat difficult to see. Just by taking the time to come to church, whether on Sunday morning or evening, you demonstrate that you love the Lord and your leader. If you come on Wednesday night, that is a real sacrifice of love, and is greatly appreciated.

Paul literally begs the Christian brothers at Thessalonica to "acknowledge" or rather, as he says in the following verse, "Hold them in the highest regard in love". This is a strong directive. Why the emphasis on knowing and loving your spiritual leaders? He tells us in this passage. Look at what he says:

1. They work hard among you
2. They care for you in the Lord
3. They admonish you

In those days, pastors hadn't gone to seminary for four years to come back and spend their lives in daily ministry. They were men who had learned the ministry by working secular jobs and studying what Scriptures they might have at their disposal, during the evenings. They had to work hard to have lessons and messages. They would give council and make visits when they could. This is a lot like what happens at our church with your pastor. 

How well do you know your pastor? Would you like his job? Would you shoulder all of the responsibilities that he shoulders? He works hard to make things happen around here. He cares for your spiritual walk. And when he scolds you, he is thinking of your good and not bad things. So, know and love him. He loves you. When you do this the natural results will be what Paul says at the end of verse 13, Live at peace with each other. When there is love for the spiritual leader there will be peace in the flock.