July 5

Day 113: Bible Heroes

Most days I don't feel so special. I don't see myself any more gifted or capable or important than anyone else. No more, and no less. (Healthy outlook, right?)

But having just completed reading Jeremiah this morning, I am struck over how godly he was. And this gets me thinking of many more Bible heroes.

Hebrews 11 recounts the deeds of special people, or so it seems. Some were the recipients of miracles. Others never really died; they were just "taken up." Still others were tested beyond human capacity to bear, and held faithful. Most of them were particularly courageous, even daring.

And, of course, there were those saints who were given apostolic gifts, and went out to proclaim God's mercies in the gospel of Jesus. And planted churches. Usually, at great cost to themselves.

It doesn't just end with the names we read in the Bible. There were others who followed in the next centuries, even into our own. These saints held to the truth, and suffered for doing so. All to God's glory, and our memory.

While inspired by so many of these that have gone on before, I don't necessarily relate. To any of them.

But maybe I do. Maybe you do too.

Charles Spurgeon talks about this. He writes to remind his readers that these great saints of the past did not have any more of the indwelling Holy Spirit than any Christian today.

By example, the apostle Paul was more faithful, more holy, more learned than anyone I know, including me. But his calling to be a saint is the same calling by which we are called.

He also goes on to say that they dealt with temptations and sin. His observation? The more devoted someone is to the Person and mission of Jesus, the more hassles, the more attacks they face. (And we can all relate to hassles if not observable spiritual attacks, right?)

We have the same Spirit, the same truth, the same grace that leads us to salvation as they had. But...and this is key...they were certainly more submitted to God through Christ Jesus.

The ones who lived with Jesus also lived for Jesus. Therefore, they grew to be more like Jesus.

After the "Spiritual Hall of Fame" stories of chapter 11, Hebrews 12 starts with, "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also"...meaning, be like them.

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."

It all seems to be about "Looking to Jesus." He is to be our truth source, our comfort, our hope. Just Him. Only Him.

"Looking to Jesus" is what binds us to the Bible heroes.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau