On Tuesday, we introduced a new study in the Matters of Life and Death (MLD) series: a focus on the Commands of Christ as seen in the lives of His disciples. If you missed that announcement, we invite you to read that article to better understand the scope and overview of the new study in this MLD series.

Each Thursday, we will follow our pattern of the last two MLD surveys that focused on the Ten Commandments and the Attributes of God. In the Commands of Christ study, we will present the life of a hero or heroine from Christian history who lived out the command of Christ under consideration. In this new study in the MLD series, we are expanding our view to consider women in addition to men. 

Although the focus of the “Matters of Life and Death” articles was originally intended for fathers and husbands, we are thankful that many ladies and young people have seen value in these articles and have been faithful readers. We believe that this new study in the MLD series is an appropriate time to include Godly women of Christian history who have followed in the steps of Mary and Martha and have served Christ as did Priscilla and Phebe in the first century.

It is important to remember that anytime that we highlight the testimony of some Christian hero or heroine, we are dealing with mortal men and women with their own failures and shortcomings. The inclusion of such men and women in this series in no way implies an endorsement of everything that they said or did. 

We are all put on this earth to glorify our Lord. Inasmuch as these men and women obeyed Christ’s commands and followed Him faithfully, their testimonies and examples can inspire us. We can be warned by their failures, encouraged by their successes, and inspired by their lasting influences.

Consider these questions: Who in Christian history saw dramatic spiritual fruit when he obeyed our Lord’s command to pray for laborers? What medical doctor learned to love his neighbor as himself and thus spared many lives? Who was a mother that obeyed our Lord’s command to “despise not little ones” and saw the Lord use her children in a mighty way? What wealthy noblewoman gave generously to advance God’s Kingdom and saw the Lord bless her as she blessed others? What husband and wife sought first the Kingdom of God and were beheaded side by side for their testimony?

We will examine these biographical sketches and see time and time again that being Christ’s disciple is a life of daily learning, daily following, daily surrendering, and daily obeying our Lord and Master. It is not then; it is now. It is not them; it is me! May God help us all to gain inspiration from the past as we seek to follow Jesus in the present.