Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk ...

This morning we come together to remember those who lost there lives last September and also remember those who are currently serving and died serving each of us. From the soldier to the fire fighter, today we remember those who did more than just talked the talk. We remember those who Walked the walk.

As Christians, we have been told that this is the way we are to be. Often, we find ourselves lacking in that department. So today I pose these two questions to each of you:

Our scripture text this morning is part of Paul’s letters to the church at Colossae. In this section Paul deals with these very questions. He tells the Colossians that they must follow three simple steps … three steps which all Christians must follow.

The first of these is simply to seek Christ. If you want to live a Christ centered life, you must first turn your eyes upon Jesus. You must look first to Christ. (Pause) How do we do this? As Paul write, we must first ‘Set’ our minds ‘on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.’ Setting your heart on something is to seek something. If you want to live a Christ centered life, then you must first dedicate yourself to a lifetime of seeking. When you become a Christian; when you become a disciple, you become a student of Christ. It is not like grade school (12 and out), not like college (4 or more and out), it is a life-time of learning. It is realizing that we never learn it all. Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If you read your Bibles, you will notice that seeking and learning about God and Christ span the entire book. Proverbs 9 tells us: “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (vv. 9-10). (Pause) What are you doing to seek Christ; to set your hearts on things above, to nurture your faith? No matter your answer, all you must do is read, listen to, and study God’s word.

The second thing on needs to do to live a Christ centered life is to think. Christianity is not some mindless cult. God gave us brains and we are to use them. Paul tells us to “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Now that we have Christ in our hearts, we are to place him first in our thoughts. Christ must be in our hearts all day, no matter what we are doing. As was told to the Hebrews, “fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1) and to the Corinthians, “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). (Pause) Or my personal favorite, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6): "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." In plain English, no matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing — we must THINK ABOUT CHRIST.

Yes, we must Seek Christ, we must Think Christ, and lastly, we must Live Christ. This is why Paul finishes this section, beginning in verse 5, by telling us that we must put off our immoral, our worldly ways. Paul also tells us that as we shed ourselves of these ways, we must likewise ‘put on the new self’ which comes from being in and trust Jesus Christ. It is in Living Christ, that a Christian’s life becomes real. (Pause) Paul told the Corinthians in chapter 13, “I can understand all mysteries and all knowledge ... but if I have not love, I am nothing.” Our actions must show that we are truly Christians.

Just as the firefighters rushed into the trade center last September with no concern to their own safety … Just as they went in on faith and with the love of humanity and the well-being of others … so to are we to go out in faith, spreading God’s word and showing God’s love to all. As we remember the sacrifices which so many made last year, I can think of no more fitting a verse to be said in their tribute. I hope that these words are not just words which we will remember these men and women by, but also words which we will live by. Words we live by out of respect for those who gave their lives and out of service and dedication to our Lord. (Pause) Those words are the words which were written by James. It is James 2:26. I encourage you all to mark this verse and strive each day to live up to these words as well as those selfless men and women did. James simply wrote: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Remember … We can all Seek Christ. We can all Think Christ. But to be Christian, we must all Live Christ!