The Bible presents to us many characters to emulate and learn from. And while the best person to desire to be like is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, there are other Bible figures that we can use as our role models. Here are but some of them.

1. Paul

This man was probably the most beloved missionary in the New Testament aside from Jesus, the Greatest Missionary who was sent from above.

His ultimate pursuit wasn't the planting of hundreds of churches, or the discipling of thousands, or receiving the largest tithes ever recorded in the history of the church. Paul wasn't content in becoming a good spiritual father to the churches. He also wasn't content to be a hardworking church volunteer without a salary. His pursuit was more than that. He was bent on knowing Christ!

Paul said in Philippians 3:10-11, "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

Following 1 Corinthians 11:1("Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ"), let's imitate Paul, just as he imitates Christ.

2. Peter

Peter is probably known by many as the disciple who denied Christ three times, yet because he repented his sin, he was restored and after some time became the powerful leader of the early church! Wow!

Think about it. If God was able to use Peter after his denial of Christ, will God not be able to use you? If you are ashamed of what you've done, just remember this guy. He sinned; he repented; he conquered.

3. Stephen

As seen in Acts 6-7, Stephen, the New Testament's most famous food-server, actually became the church's first-ever martyr. This young man, who was full of the Holy Spirit, was so happy to serve the Lord in whatever capacity the Almighty gave him that he was chosen as a key man in taking care of the Greek-speaking widows in his time. Not only that, this simple kitchen worker became a mighty preacher and died a death that should inspire all of us believers.

Think about it. This man didn't mind serving in positions away from the stage. He should inspire all of us to serve God and the family of believers in whatever role we can.

4. Joseph

Joseph was such a humble servant of God. Just imagine the possible anger that he felt when he realised that Mary got pregnant before they were to marry each other. Just imagine how he felt when he was told not to sleep with his wife after they got married. Just imagine how he was going to take care of a Son who wasn't from his loins. Just imagine how crazy it must have felt for him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for a time, after an angel spoke to him (read Matthew 1:18-2:23). Yet, in all this, he obeyed the Lord. What a man.

Joseph should inspire all men out there to believe and obey the Lord, no matter what the discomfort it might bring.

5. John the Baptist

Here's a man living in the wilderness, clothed in woven camel's hair, and eating locusts and honey for an all-day breakfast (see Matthew 3). His message was simple, his lifestyle and looks even simpler, and his desire for self-glorification perhaps non-existent, saying "[Jesus] must increase, and I must decrease" (John 3:30). Yet Jesus said he is the greatest man who ever lived (see Matthew 11:11).

John the Baptist must inspire all of us to have less glory and praise for ourselves, and more for the Lord Jesus Christ.