"Walk it Out"

Raised by cowboys quiet, you see,

With words they used ‘em spare,

A-course they’re what I wished to be,

And glad to be right there.

Sometimes my questions went to air,

So slow they answered back,

I wondered till they’d show their care,

And take up all my slack.

Showed me how to rope and ride,

They showed me how again,

Till what they showed I will confide,

Their ways they sunk right in.

And sure when work was over,

They’d laugh and joke about,

Early memories as a drover,

And lessons learned, no doubt.

Now you can just go watch it,

Online or on TV,

Not saying there’s no profit,

With what you there will see.

But workin’ from the saddle,

With those who really know,

‘Bout horses and the cattle,

Is still the best and so,

Find the ones who do it,

And do not talk a lot,

And they will lead you to it,

Till you get what they got.

And same with knowing Jesus,

Find those who walk it out,

No doubt that He frees us,

And will show us clear the route.

Through words but yes with action,

To back up what is said,

It clears up all abstraction,

And lives the truth instead.

“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 1:12, NAS)

Our behavior matters. Though our faith is verbal and we are called to speak out for Christ, our words are meaningless unless we live them out. We walk the walk so that we can talk the talk. It’s not that living the right way is enough. It’s not. But since the redeemed of the Lord are called to say so, our day to day lives must reflect our spiritual priority. The two go together so that we can make the most powerful impact for the Kingdom of God. Keep your behavior excellent, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, help us walk the walk so we can talk the talk, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Shawn Cameron, used by permission. Thanks, Shawn, and God bless you.