I came across this quote from John Wayne the other day and it really got me thinking. “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!” For some of us the thought of evangelising to our mates or work colleagues can scare us to death.
What will they think of me? What if they ridicule me? What if they laugh at me? What if they ask me questions that I can’t answer?
Often we get scared and don’t saddle up and share our faith. But it is our faith that enables us to stand up, step out and saddle up. Throughout the Bible we see great examples of faith working miracles in the impossible situations of life. I love Hebrews 11 and how Paul looks back at some heroes of the Old Testament and how they achieved amazing things because of their great faith. Guys like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and many more. Verses 16 – 18 in the Message translation sum it up perfectly:
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Each of these people could stand up, step out and saddle up because they lived out their faith as a lifestyle. They didn’t rely upon or trust God in the big things or the important decisions but in every area of their life, no matter how big or small.
As we begin to live out our faith as a lifestyle we can be ready to stand up, step out and saddle up when God asks, not just when it suits us! We will become ready to share our faith with our mates no matter what the results are or even the ridicule that may follow.
Hebrews Chapter 11 also says this (v 11-12):
By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions. (Message)
It takes faith to stand up, step out and saddle up, but when we do amazing things can and will happen.
Photo Credit: Christian Spies
