Let's examine the Scriptures every day 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Be obedient to those who lead you (Heb. 13:17).
Although our Leader, Jesus, is perfect, the people he has chosen to lead us here on Earth are not. Sometimes, obeying their instructions can be difficult, especially if they ask us to do something we don't want to do. On one occasion, the apostle Peter felt this way. An angel told him that he had to eat animals that were unclean according to the Law of Moses. But Peter refused to do so no less than three times (Acts 10:9-16). In his opinion, these new instructions didn't make sense.
On the other hand, the apostle Paul obeyed when the elders in Jerusalem told him to prove that he was following the Law. To do this, he had to go to the temple with four men and ceremonially cleanse himself. Paul knew that Christians were no longer under the Law and that he had done nothing wrong. Nevertheless, the account says: “The next day Paul took these men with him and ceremonially cleansed himself with them” (Acts 21:23, 24, 26). By his obedience, he contributed to unity among the brothers (Rom. 14:19, 21).
What does Stephanie's experience teach you?
A sister named Stephanie found it very difficult to accept a decision made by the branch office. She and her husband were very happy serving in a foreign-speaking group. But the branch decided to disband the group, and this couple was asked to return to a congregation that spoke their native language.
How did Stephanie feel? She admits, “I felt very sad, and I didn’t think a congregation in our own language needed any more help.” Even so, she decided to support the change. She says, “Over time, I came to understand that the brothers made a wise decision. In our new congregation, many don’t have any family members who share the truth, so we became their spiritual parents.”
I also give Bible lessons to a sister who was inactive until recently. And now I have more time for my personal study.” He concludes by saying, “I know I have done my best to be obedient, and that gives me peace of mind.”
How does being obedient benefit us?
We can all learn to be obedient. Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered,” not through living in perfect conditions (Heb. 5:8). Often, we too learn to be obedient when we go through difficult situations.
Let's think about what happened at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were asked to stop meeting in Kingdom Halls and to refrain from preaching from house to house. How did you fare? Did you find it difficult to obey?
In any case, his obedience protected him, kept him united with his brothers, and pleased Jehovah. Now we are all better prepared to obey any instruction we receive during the great tribulation. Obedience will likely save our lives. (Job 36:11)
Why do you want to be obedient?
We have learned that when we are obedient, we receive many blessings. But above all, we choose to obey Jehovah because we love him and want to please him (1 John 5:3). We can never repay him for all he has done for us (Psalm 116:12). But there is something we can do: obey Jehovah and those in authority. By our obedience, we show that we are wise. And when we are wise, we make Jehovah’s heart rejoice (Proverbs 27:11).
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