Having a faith is not very dreamy. Not very glamorous. Often challenging. Frequently criticised. Open to physical, social and spiritual opposition.
Jesus was quite clear on his instruction:
Some people are born to preach, or become speakers. Travelling the world to feature in conferences with amazing budgets and often televised. Some people are called to minister to a local church with a congregation of fewer than 100 and a tithing issue that means they constantly fight to find money. Some people are called to go into the furthest geographical reaches and work in communities struck by poverty, oppression and even violence.
None of us however are called to sit at home and polish our faith only to keep it behing closed doors in case it gets ruined, challenged or damaged.
If you ask anyone living out a minsitry if they have bad days, down days, hard days or sleepless nights then they will most likely say yes.
The Apostle Paul took some amazing journeys, and lived a life that I imagine he would never have believed he was destined for. Paul lived a life of incredible experiences, driven by his faith. Paul also had a more than a smidgen of hardship and persecution. His accounts of how his faith holds him firm really are incredible.
We might not be a speaker, a minister or a tv evangalist but we have a faith that must go out into the real world and stand the test of being lived out. However our faith is not made of the finest crystal or thin air, it can withstand great pressure and constant wear and tear. Make sure you use your faith, not just mark it 'for display purposes only'.
Jesus quote from Mark 16:15.
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