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But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear
(1 Peter 3:15)
We frequently hear the phrases "talk the talk" and "walk the walk".
People use it in all manner of contexts, but I have heard them used a lot by religious people.
They say you "have to talk the talk and walk the walk." And it sounds good. But they have no idea what walking the walk means.
They talk about salvation and how Jesus can change our lives and make a difference.
They know all the pat phrases and you can almost recognize their denominational background as soon as they open their mouths. But then when we look at their life, it is no different from their old life except that every chance they get they begin quoting scripture and encouraging you to 'be born again' and 'accept Christ as your personal Savior'.
Now even sinners can tell the difference between a hypocrite and a true child of God. In fact they are probably much better at it that many Christians.
We tend to want to excuse a lot of sins because we have them in our own lives or want to appear loving and forgiving. Sinners are more honest.
The problem is some individuals among us make so much noise talking the talk, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the sinner who says to himself, "Why should I accept Christ when they don't live any different than I do?" And, you know, they have a point.
Living the life of the saint of God (walking the walk) has a much, much greater impact on people than all the talking anyone could ever do.
One of the scriptures that has always impacted strongly on my life was Peter's admonition: be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
The phrase that holds my attention is being ready "to give an answer" for the hope within us.
This to me, implies that walking the walk comes first.
If we are walking the walk, then sinners are going to want to know why.
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Why do we live the way we do? |
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Why do we avoid the worldly amusements and places of entertainment? |
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Why don’t we drink and go to clubs for a good time? |
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Why do we value the basic principles of honesty, modesty, sobriety? And not only value them but live by them. |
We get all wrapped up in the fact that Jesus sent the disciples into the world to preach the gospel. We get involved in the thought that we are to witness. We think we are supposed to testify of Jesus power.
What we neglect to notice is that with Christ and the apostles and all the great ministers of God through the ages, the witnessing, the preaching, the testifying have followed their living a life for God.
We cannot get so involved in witnessing that we neglect to walk the walk. If we are to have any impact for the Lord in this world, we must live the life, walk the walk that is pleasing to God first. The talking the talk comes later.
Trust me when I say, that godly life will be a witness without your ever saying a word.
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