The euphoria of leaving for Australia could easily be lost in the LONG hours of travel. Waiting in line, going through security and comfortable sleeping positions on an air plane tend to lose their ‘jet-setting’ glamor after a bit.
Already, I am so thankful for my squad-mates and I am inspired by their passions and the gifts the Lord has blessed them with. Nearly every time we are waiting in a long ling to board the plane or approach the ticket counter my friend Tristan can be overheard stirring up conversations about God. Tristen is one of the most gifted evangelists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. His calm Canadian-heart and love for Jesus is palpable.
It has been relatively easy to drum up conversation as we have been traveling; A large group of young adults with backpacks and guitars as carry-on items draws attention. People ask questions. Their questions are easy openers and are valued a a blessing to our ministry.
It is easy to share your faith when you are doing something to live it out–When you are taking action to make a change in the world. It is easy to share your love when you are acting on it.
I am reminded of all the times I missed opportunities to start a conversation about my faith because I felt like I wasn’t living it out. I didn’t want to share the gospel I believed in, because I was afraid of the hypocrisy in my own life. If my God is really so amazing why wasn’t I living in a way that showed my love for him and my desperation to see his kingdom come? Why wasn’t I seizing the opportunity to tell others about the Healing Power of Christ so that they could also reap the benefits of living life with a full and whole heart?
I think it is because conversations about faith can be easier with strangers than conversations with coworkers or friends, it is easy to be bold one time, it is easy to say something to a stranger you will never meet again. Why is it so much harder to be a REAL Christian around the people that are closer to you? The ones that receive the most of you?
For me, I have discovered that it was my own fear of hypocrisy holding me back. I was afraid that the people whoi knew me most would see the contradictions between what I say I believe and what I do. We need to get over our fear of hypocrisy and stop being hypocrites. When we actually believe in the teaching of Jesus, we will take what he has taught us to heart and live it out without shame or fear of condemnation. The Fear of being held accountable to our actions is rooted in the conviction that we are not living the way we know we should. The Holy Spirit will stir discomfort and conviction in the hearts of believers when they are being disobedient to God’s will.
I am learning to be held accountable for what I say I believe. I am learning that obedience and integrity discredits criticism. I am learning that there is freedom in ‘walking the walk.’
It is my prayer that God speaks to you in new ways and you feel encouraged to be a little bolder and a little more accountable in your everyday lives.
A note on food:
At the grocery store in Singapore we picked up some “Sour Prunes” these little nuggets were coated in salt, sugar, and honey. The salt was overwhelming and caused a few taste-testers to pucker and gag a bit..
Honey Cuttlefish – tasted like fish food that had been dipped in granulated sugar. Very fishy.. Very much the only time I will ever need to try this..
For lunch in Singapore we went to an open air “food court” type of place where the locals enjoy local food. I had Hokkien (noodles) with prongs, egg, spicy sauce, bits of fried pork fat, and what I am guessing was squid (but could have been cuttlefish) This was super yummy, and I would eat it again.
