Some folks have probably become Christians as they read and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ on their own. It is possible. However, most of us have come to our faith in Jesus through the love and effort of other Christians. Perhaps it was a relative–mom, dad, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister. Or maybe it was a close friend who wanted us to have an everlasting life.
Think back to the time when you first believed. Can you remember the devotion of your leaders? Remember the sacrifices they made? They spent a lot of their time teaching, preaching, and helping others to learn about the Lord when they could have been watching TV. Many of them had full-time jobs of their own and yet found time to share God’s word with you. They meditated upon that word and lived it out before you.
Those who led us to Christ carried a huge responsibility. They became the examples that we followed. We learned how to live as Jesus lived by the way they demonstrated it before us. They gave us a “great treasure”–a picture of what faith and holiness look like in our own time. We should honor such folks for their gift of making Jesus real for us.
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:7-8).
