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Answer:

What a great question! Actually, Scripture is full of narratives about individuals who followed God in faith and can serve as vibrant role models for us. The book of Genesis shows us some of those who surrendered to God's work in their lives, despite the fact that they were extremely human, each with quite obvious shortcomings. (I find that encouraging!)

So, one way to find principles of living from the lives of those in Scripture is to use the concordance in the back of your Bible, looking up the name of the individual you'd like to read about. Oftentimes, he or she will be named in more than one book, in both the Old and New Testament. For example, specific Old Testament individuals are held up as role models in Hebrews 11 in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, we get a very full picture of the life of the Apostle Paul through, primarily, the Acts of the Apostles, and then further in his letters. He himself suggests to the churches that they follow his example. Look at Philippians 3:17 which reads, "Join with others in following my example, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." Or in 2 Thessalonians 3:7: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example."

Paul also encourages his young friend, Timothy, whom he mentors with these words, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." (See 1 Timothy 4:11-12)

Of course, the most important role model we can ever have is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Philippians 2:5 reads, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." And Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love..." Even when Paul is encouraging others to follow his example, he makes it very clear that it's Christ who is the ultimate example: "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

I hope this helps!

God bless you.