Do you see your faith as substantial or ethereal? Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Do you see the brilliance of this statement in the way it relates very concrete things (substance, evidence) with things that are invisible (things not seen and hope). Your faith encompasses both realms and provides a connection between them. You will be in error if your faith only embraces one of these. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Your faith is best lived with a foot in both worlds.

What type of world do you live in? Do you encounter skeptics that point to human suffering and say that it reflects badly on me? I said that my creation was good. Is it possible for this to be true even in a world that includes suffering, even your own? Even in the midst of your difficulties, do you live in a world that is congruent rather than random, in which everything belongs in its own way to a coherent whole, and which is moving, however slowly, toward a favorable conclusion, and that your life matters as a part of it?

Do you practice an intellectually rigorous faith? Do not think that these concepts must be in opposition. Scholars throughout the ages have given serious thought to theology, and true faith will withstand scrutiny. You may find some things in your beliefs that don’t measure up, and find that they were not essential anyway. You don’t need to park your brain at the door of the church, but this is not the same thing as figuring everything out by yourself. You describe your faith as a relationship with me, but you normally apply rigorous thinking in the realm of propositional truth claims.

You read stories of my life and others from the Bible. What conclusions do you draw from them? For instance, when I fed 5000, do you think it serves to validate my claims of divinity? Does it have any significance beyond that? Does feeding the hungry resonate with you as something you should be doing too? Those who believe in me are called my followers, and your primary calling is to do the things I did. I gave you this assignment and promised to equip you to do the same works and even greater ones.