One of my prized possessions is a saddle that belonged to my grandfather. The saddle was made in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s by R.E. Donaho in San Angelo,TX. My grandfather used it to calf rope and then to ranch for many years. He told many stories about gathering sheep and doctoring screw worms out of that saddle. The saddle is beautifully tooled and has a distinctive green padded seat, as was the style in those days. I’ve always loved the way it looks. It’s fun to look back at old photographs and see the saddle in use over many decades.
My grandfather had to stop riding many years back. I was given the saddle about 14 years ago. I started using it right away. I always enjoyed using something that had that kind of history. In recent years, I haven’t used it quite as much. I have other saddles that we use. Consequently, the saddle was beginning to show the effects of time. The padded seat was torn. There were some tears in the leather too. It needed some TLC.
I took the saddle to a repair shop recently and had them fix every issue. A new seat, new strings, new stirrup leathers, a good cleaning and oiling; I wanted the saddle to look new again. And now it does. It’s wonderful to see it in such good shape, but if I decide to put it back in the barn for another ten years, it will be right back in the same condition. Why?
Because saddles are meant to be used. When we stop using them, the leather becomes dry and brittle. The stirrup leathers and fenders stop moving freely like they did before. Often, one of the best things you can do with a saddle is to use it.
Our faith works in a similar way. Christ doesn’t save us so we can leave our faith on a shelf at home. It is meant to be used. And the more we use it, the better it becomes. We learn perseverance in the midst of trials. We are constantly shaped by the Holy Spirit, so that our lives begin to produce good fruit. This means living out our faith with other people. Our faith is personal, but it is not private. We are meant to live in community.
Using our faith means serving side by side with other believers in the local church. It means sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. It means taking this free gift of salvation and putting shoes on it. Christ has commissioned us to preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them and making disciples.
When we hoard our faith, we stifle it. Does your faith feel dry and brittle? Take it out of the case and put it to use. Get plugged into a local church, start serving, and share Jesus with the world.
Jesus told us that we must let our faith be seen in Matthew 5:16;
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I’m going to be sure I keep using that old saddle. I would encourage you to keep using your faith. After all, our faith was meant to be shared.