Jesus spoke to his followers and told them, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12 NKJV). Paul said something along the same lines, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). He also said, "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy" (Romans 13:13). To another group, Paul wrote, "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). (The emphasis on "walk" in each of these passages was added by the author.)

Salvation is just the beginning; let's learn to "walk the walk" too.

We've all heard the saying, "If you can't walk the walk, then don't talk the talk." This is very true. I'm sure that we have way too many hypocrites in the church that talk the talk, but don't live the Christian life. However, something else is true: many don't know how to "walk the walk." The Bible talks about "sins of ignorance" (Hebrews 9:7). Sometimes I think that we get so excited about presenting the gospel and seeing people saved that we forget to follow through with showing them how to "walk the walk." We leave them in ignorance, unprepared and unsupported in their new walk in Jesus.

Maybe no one ever took time to show them.

I have seen people "get saved" over and over again, so to speak, because they assumed that they must not have meant it the previous time simply because their life was such a mess. Maybe no one ever took the time to show them how to "walk the walk." Part of the Great Commission, Jesus' last words before leaving earth, reminds us that we must teach new followers to "walk the walk"! Jesus reminded us that we must be "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you ..." (Matthew 28:20). Again, the emphasis is added as sort of my "Amen" to what Jesus said — our teaching must be training in how to walk the Christian life and not just talk it.

Some people don't know how to "walk the walk," but don't seem to care. Others don't know and don't know that they don't know. Let's show them the way to "walk the walk" and let's be willing to learn how to "walk the walk" ourselves.

As we get ready for the New Year, let's commit to make 2007 a year we walk the walk! Our friends have heard enough talk. Let's get to the walk!

And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:20-21)

The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief.

Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.

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