July 17, 2025 | Be God's Family
Other Heroes of the Faith
Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-38(NIV)
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
Devotional
This is a challenging piece of scripture, mostly because we are not Jewish and do not know Jewish history well. In the Bible Study Series by William Barclay, he says that this scripture references the time between the Old and New Testaments, called the Maccabean period. During this time frame, a king came to power by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes. This King hated the Jews and their laws. It appears his one goal was to rid the world of the Jewish faith and in his desire to do so, he killed and maimed many Jewish people when they refused to break their laws. The stories are gruesome but I would encourage you to read some about his atrocities. These were people of great faith, willing to give up their lives to save their faith. Because of people like these, the Jewish faith continued and Jesus was able to come for all of us.
Do you know of someone like this: Someone willing to give up their life so that belief in God would not vanish? If you are like me and have only lived in this country, probably not. Maybe you have heard of those in other countries who have struggled and sacrificed to share the faith. I admire these people.
When I read the history of this nation and slavery, I admire the slaves. A group of people who were mistreated, maligned, and tortured and yet had faith. You read of their faith and wonder if you would have been up to it. That is what the Hebrews did when they read this passage. They remembered all those who came before them and allowed them to practice their faith. It is what we should do. We should remember all those who came before us. I am a very lucky person and come from a family with a long history of faithfulness. There are no stories of punishment or torture in my family history. Yet, each one before me in my family continued the faith, shared the faith, and delivered it to me. What a blessing!.
Who is responsible for your faith? Who led you to God? If they are still here, thank them. If they have passed, thank God for the gift they gave you. You will never know what sacrifices they may have made to give you the opportunity to believe.
Poem
I'm Not Worthy
Psalm 55
Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.
Psalm 55:1-3
Are you able, dear brother, to bear suff’ring’s pain?
Are you able, dear sister, Your name be defamed?
No, LORD, for in You alone can I bear such great shame
I’m not worthy to share in Your suffering
Are you able, dear mother, to stand ‘neath a cross?
Are you able, dear father, your loved child be lost?
No, LORD, for in You only can I bear this great cost
I’m not worthy to share in Your suffering
Are you able, my dear one, pursued and arrested?
Are you able, disciple, your faith be full tested?
No, LORD, for Your grace is all that can but sustain me
I’m not worthy to share in Your suffering
