35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:35-38
The Biblical characters in the previous section have done some very mighty things, but the believers suffered greatly in this section. So, to God, it is not about the results achieved but the reasons you do it.
These people
of whom the world was not worthy.
Wow, what a statement! That means that God would rather give up the whole world just for these people. If we are given a choice, would you rather be the believers in Hebrews 11:33-34 or Hebrews 11:35-38? I think most would like to be in the former group. But if I read “of whom the world was not worthy” correctly, I think the second group is at least as dear to God as the first group, if not more.
We may not have the skills to conquer kingdoms, but we all can endure suffering for Him.
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