Walk the talk

 

Scripture:  Matthew 23:3 “So practice & obey whatever they [the Pharisees & teachers of the law] tell you, but don’t follow their example.  For they don’t practice what they teach”

 

Observation:  Thus begins one of Jesus’ strongest, if not THE strongest, indictments of the religious leaders – or anyone -  recorded in the New Testament.  He roundly denounced the Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses as hypocrites who lead the people away from the Lord by burdening them with rules & regulations that were designed by the Lord Himself to draw the people of Israel TO Him!!  How we can twist what the Lord has designed for good into the very opposite!!  But the key here is that the Pharisees didn’t “walk the talk” – their hearts were far away from the Lord whilst they “obeyed” the Law to the nth degree!  Had their hearts been towards the Lord, they would have recognised Jesus for who He was, their long-awaited Messiah, and not seen Him as they did – a huge threat to their power base!!  Jesus, however, was the supreme example of “walking the talk”.  He constantly demonstrated what it was to obey the Father & walk in His ways.  That’s what He requires of those who come after Him.   “If you love Me, you will obey what I command”.  Here is a call to heart obedience.  To love.  To purity. To integrity.  He gives the power to do it by His Spirit, and He forgives when we fail.  But it’s still ultimately my moment-by moment choice to walk the talk as well as talk the talk.  If I don’t, I will be labelled a hypocrite by anyone observing me, bringing displeasure to my Lord (as David did over Bathsheba & Uriah)& disgrace to His name!!  If I do, though, I will bring pleasure to my Lord, & Glory to his name!!

 

Application:  I know which I’d rather do – give my Lord pleasure & bring glory to His name!!  But I still have to make the choice!!  And it’s not always going to be easy (Uriah made the right choice - & it cost him his life!!).  The solution?  It’s been said before, but bears saying again – keep my heart soft towards the Lord, ever listening for His voice, keeping short accounts with Him when I fail, that I can be restored to Him quickly!!  Recognising that He DOES give me the power to overcome, by His grace & His Spirit, but that I have a part to play in surrendering my will to His!!  It should actually get easier as time goes on & I mature in Him, but, again, like David, I cannot afford to let down my guard, for that has the potential to be a disaster waiting to happen!!  The enemy of my soul does NOT “play fair”!! And how easy can it be to just “talk the talk” as my “Christianese” gets better with practice!!    I have the potential to fool everyone ….except the Lord!!  So…today – and all the days to come – I need to determine that I will “Walk the Talk”, not just “talk the talk”

 

Prayer:  Thankyou, Lord, for Your Word which continually challenges me to Walk the Talk as Your Son did.  I long to please You & bring glory to Your Name.  Help me to be vigilant, to quickly recognise when I am starting to stray  from You and correct any  mis-alignment immediately!  Thankyou that You don’t put me under pressure to “perform”, but that You give me Your power, through Your Spirit living within me, to enable me to walk Your way.

 

In Jesus’ name

 

Amen.

 

 

Sue Otto