Walk the Walk

Dear Brethren,

It is so easy to say, "walk the walk," and so difficult to do it.  Many a person believes that he or she is doing enough to be considered a good Christian.  How does a Christian, "walk the walk?"  First of all, it helps to determine what a Christian is.  Better yet, what is a spiritually mature Christian – one who truly walks with Jesus Christ?  How can we know if we are truly walking in the steps of Jesus ?  "Righteousness shall go before Him; and shall set us in the way of His steps. "  (Psalms 85:13)

We are blessed in that we have been given Jesus as a role model to show us the way.  However, we must be extremely cautious to make sure that we are indeed walking in His steps, and not just paying lip service to Christianity, as the unbelieving world does.   Jesus made it absolutely clear when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me."  (John 14:6)  By that, Jesus meant that in this life, we must live our lives as He lived and died - we must walk the same exact way that He did.   "Jesus said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."  (Luke 9:23)  "He that says that he abides in Him [Jesus] ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."  (1John 2:6)

We have been blessed beyond measure to have received a special calling from God.  That calling has resulted in our being placed within the body of true believers – the Body of Christ.  What should a Christian be doing today?  We should be looking for a way to strengthen the bonds of Christianity with the brethren - that is the focus of the New Testament teachings for us.  We should be developing our relationships with those who know the truth and walk within it. "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently."  (1Peter 1:22)

Whenever we find followers of Jesus Christ, led by God's Spirit, we must build strong lasting relationships with a pure heart fervently.  We can never forsake true brethren and go in search of something else.  Jesus would never treat us that way.  Jesus said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5)  Too many brethren who say that they love Jesus and worship the Father, will not have anything to do with each other.

Jesus Christ taught us that we serve Him while we are serving other brethren.  Many brethren want to walk the walk, but are only able to form the most superficial relationships with others.  Sometimes, they are fearful of taking a real stand for their faith.  What happens is that they make initial contact with others, even praying for them, but they maintain a "safe" distance.  Jesus did not, "play it safe."  Do we realize that the only way to grow spiritually is to exercise the fruits of the Spirit in meaningful ways with others?  The relationships we build with our brethren is the exact same relationship that we build with Jesus Christ.  If we desert our brethren who need us - we desert Jesus Christ.  "If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"  (1John 4:20)

God expects us to practice on each other.  He has given us the wisdom, understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures to stay in close contact with other Christians.  This is what Christ requires of us so that we can develop spiritually.  Without thorough interaction with other Christians, our spiritual development lies dormant.  "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."  (Proverbs 27:17)

Are we truly concerned about others' well-being?  Are we willing to open up our hearts and share our hopes, hurts, disappointments with others?  Are we able to empathize with others in their distress?  Or, is it much safer to keep to ourselves?  So many people are defensive today.  They have lost sight of how to "walk the walk," and practice true Christianity.  We have been given Jesus Christ as a role model to show us the way.  Jesus said, "Truly I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, have done it unto me  (Matthew 25:40)

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Sermon:  "Walk the Walk" 

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