There are many courageous and faithful men and women in the Bible.  Their stories show dedication and love for God. While some rose from commonness to power, most remained as everyday people choosing to follow the One true God, one day at a time.

There is one man, in his last hours on earth, who became a follower of Jesus. Blessings!

These are just a sampling of people who simply believed in all of God’s goodness and faithfulness, then in their own way shared His truth with others. Their personal stories are an inspiration to us all.

Which of the following persons do you best relate to?

OLD TESTAMENT:

ABRAHAM – showed faith to follow God no matter the unknown destination. 

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

DANIEL – displayed courage against foreigners and their customs while living as a captive in a foreign land.

Daniel 1:8-9 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 

Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,

ELIJAH – had absolute certainty in the power of Almighty God against the power of false gods.

1 Kings 18:36-38 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 

Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

DAVID – a heartfelt confessor, dedicated to living a life of genuine love for the LORD.

Psalm 62:5-8 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

DEBORAH – humble in service to God, able to hear His Word.

Judges 5:1-3 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the LORD! “Hear this, you kings!

Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will praise the LORD, the God of Israel, in song.

MOSES – commissioned to lead God’s chosen people, though he thought little of himself.

Exodus 3:7-11 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

RAHAB – showed willingness to risk death to help God’s people carry out God’s plan. 

We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORDyour God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 

“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.”

NEW TESTAMENT:

BLEEDING WOMAN – healed by hope in the power of Jesus.

Luke 8:43-48 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

JOHN – entrusted to care for someone precious to Jesus, His mother. 

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

MARY – believed in the word from an angel. 

Luke 1:30-31 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

MARY MAGDALENE – supported Jesus’ ministry.

Luke 8:1-3 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others.

These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

PAUL – Transformed by God. 

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

PETER – a bold witness for the life of Christ. 

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

THIEF ON THE RIGHT AT CALVARY – during his last hours, believed in Jesus. 

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What a variety of followers our Lord, Yahweh, has blessed. I encourage you to read more on these short stories. If you are not a believer yet, God planned a special story just for you, so ask Him into your heart today,  that you may receive it!.

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