On Monday, we began a short series on the subject of faith by reading a passage from Hebrews 11, sometimes called the "Faith Chapter" of the Bible. We read about some "heroes of the Faith," people who overcame tremendous odds and won great victories. I love those victory stories, don't you? Moses led the Hebrews out of bondage to the Promised Land. Noah built the ark and preserved the human race. Abraham followed God and left Ur, without knowing where he was going, and is called the Father of Faith. What faithful people...but faithful people don't always look like winners to the people around them! Today, let's widen our perspective by listening to the next few verses:

Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were mocked and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. The world didn’t deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and living in caves and holes in the ground. (Heb. 11:35b-38)

Whoa! What do you think about that? Those heroes of faith really had to pay the bitter price to follow the Lord? On Monday we read some great success stories—one that we love to remember and share. But how about those results of their walking by faith: being mocked, brutally tortured, whipped, imprisoned, stoned to death, sawed in half, killed with swords, abused, and living in caves and holes in the ground. The fact that things were hard for them doesn't mean they weren't faithful; sometimes, living by faith means we go through terrible stuff. When we read Christian books about successful living, writers often promise that things will turn out the way we want—but success in the Kingdom of God means doing whatever God has called us to do, no matter what the outcome. There are many successful Christians in the world today being persecuted, imprisoned and killed for following Jesus. How about you? Are you willing to follow Jesus faithfully? You, and I, may have to endure some hard things to follow Him...and that is part of the Good News, too!