Submitted by Pastor Bill Hargis, Rock Port and Watson United Methodist Churches

Have you ever heard the expression, “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” In other words, can you back up what you are saying? Unfortunately, as Christians, we hear this too often, usually in a statement like this, “You call yourself a Christian?” Add a sneer and a scornful tone, then you have it. We usually hear this right after we are caught doing something not so Christ-like. Some people – and I cringe when I hear this – try to justify their actions by saying, “I am not perfect, but I am forgiven.” When a Christian says this, what I hear is someone trying to justify their actions. Sort of like I’m sorry . . . BUT!

I am flawed, I make mistakes, and the light of God does not shine brightly through me all the time. With that being said I think a Christian is someone who always, at least to some visible degree, does walk the walk and talk the talk. We should be more like Jesus Christ and less like ourselves. We should be, as Disciples of Christ, living in a way that people recognize God’s grace, mercy and love living in us.

Exactly what would that look like? “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my Disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).

As Christians, we are living in the grace because of the mercy of God. Because of our faith in Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit lives in us and guides our life, if we allow it. It’s this Holy Spirit that gives us the desire and the power to turn from our old ways and to love others.

William Willimon tells this story about God’s Holy Spirit. One person was telling another, I’m really not a loving, peaceable person by natural inclination. If I am going to act in a loving way toward the people I despise, God will have to make me that way.

If we want to walk the walk, John Wesley gives us three simple rules: 1) Do no harm. 2) Do good. 3) Stay in love with God. Then they will know we are Christians by our love. Be blessed, be a blessing.