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希伯来书：13:17-19：17你们要依从那些引导你们的，且要顺服，因他们为你们的灵魂时刻儆醒，好像那将来交帐的人。你们要使他们交的时候有快乐，不至忧愁；若忧愁就与你们无益了。18请你们为我们祷告，因我们自觉良心无亏，愿意凡事按正道而行。19我更求你们为我祷告，使我快些回到你们那里去。
我们不喜欢顺服别人，哪怕是我们的牧师，特别是如果他说了我们不愿意听的话。《希伯来书》的作者说，我们理当依从他们，因他们为我们的灵魂时刻儆醒，将来要向上帝交帐的。顺服他们，使他们交账的时候有快乐，不至忧愁。
作为一个牧师我可以分享一下我的观点吗？在做咨询、特别是婚姻咨询的时候，我总是期盼我面前的两个灵魂最终能成功修复他们的婚姻关系，因为我知道一个麻烦不断的婚姻在属灵方面会有压力。我经常会给夫妇二人留些功课去做，比如每天一起灵修，或者每天一起散步。那些听从我建议的夫妇往往成功了，因为经营婚姻不如火箭科学那么难。它实际是一种神圣化的常识。但如果两个人连对上帝的话语都无法达成一致，或者连30分钟的时间都无法彼此陪伴，这个婚姻通常会失败。发生这样的事情，让作为牧师的我也感到难过，因为我见证了基督化家庭婚姻失败的悲剧。你的牧师不是“专业咨询师。”我常听到人们这样说。但他是一个牧师咨询师，如同一个被上帝任命的牧者，他对你的灵魂时刻儆醒。
《希伯来书》的作者说：“请你们为我们祷告。”今天就为你的牧师祷告吧，特别是在这个繁忙的假日。如果他为你提出一些敬虔的忠告，不论是在布道里还是在私下里，听从他的话并将之付诸实践。他对你的灵魂时刻儆醒。
祷告：主耶稣，谢谢你赐给我这些牧师或牧者，他们对我的灵魂时刻儆醒。在这个繁忙的假期，请和我的牧师同在，祝福他所传的信息。当他引领看顾我们的时候，请赐给我智慧和神圣化的常识。正如你教导的那样，我祷告你差派更多的工人去收你的庄稼。我如此祈求是奉你的名。阿们。
We don’t like to submit to other people, even if that person is our pastor, and especially if he says things we don’t like to hear. The writer to the Hebrews says we should obey them, because they are watching over our souls and accountable to God. Obey them so that their work will be a joy and not a burden.
Can I share a pastoral perspective? In counseling, and especially marriage counseling, I always wanted these two souls in front of me to succeed, because I know a difficult marriage can be spiritually stressful. As I worked with couples, I would often give them assignments like having a devotion together every day or taking a walk together every day. Those who followed my advice would often succeed in their marriage because having a successful marriage isn’t rocket science. It is basically just sanctified common sense. But when two people could not even come together in God’s Word or in spending thirty minutes a day with each other, the marriages usually failed. It grieved me as a pastor when that happened, because I have witnessed the tragedy of a failed marriage in a Christian family. Your pastor is not a “professional counselor.” I often heard that. But he is a pastor counselor who cares for your soul as only a God appointed shepherd does.
The writer to the Hebrews says, “Pray for us.” Pray for your pastor today, especially as he enters this busy holiday season. And if he gives you some godly advice to you, whether in his sermon or especially in private, listen and put what he says into practice. He is watching over your soul.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us pastor / shepherds who watch over our souls. Be with my pastor during this busy holiday season and bless his messages. Give me wisdom and sanctified common sense as he guides the people under his care. And as you taught us, I pray that you will send more workers into your harvest field. I ask this in your name. Amen.