I’ve never worn a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelet. Whether or not that makes me a bad person I’m not sure? (note to self - it’s all the other things that make you a bad person) What I’m not convinced about is that wearing one would make me a better person, a better Christian or draw me nearer to God. I have a friend who wears one as an evangelistic opportunity - so that people ask him what it is and it gives him the opportunity to share his faith. I think this is a great thing to do and I pray that he will be given more openings through this to share his faith. I guess I’m just not convinced that there are thousands of people out there living out the What Would Jesus Do? lifestyle. Ok, I don’t wear the bracelet but I know I’m not.So, what would a person living out this life look like, act like, be like? I don’t need to answer that question for you. All you need to do is look at the life of Jesus to see what someone asking this question and carrying out the answers would look like.
To aspire to do what Jesus would do is a great aspiration and I wouldn’t want to knock it. However, let’s face it, Jesus happened to be the Son of God, God in human form and to top it all off he was also perfect. So if I were to honestly ask myself What Would Jesus Do the answers I would get back would be quite deflating. So What would Jesus Do?
He’d heal the sick
He’d walk on water
He’d go all the way to the cross
He’d confront the leaders
He’d resist all temptation
He’d feed the poor
He’d love all his enemies
He’d die for those who hate him
He’d teach with wisdom and authority
He’d go the extra mile every single time
He’d mix with prostitutes and the outcasts
He’d confront the wrong doers and the Pharisees
He’d command the sea and the waves be still
He would show people God
If I could measure up to just one of these things I’d think I was doing pretty great. I think the question I’d like to ask is WWJHMD? Ok so it’s not as catchy and the writing on the bracelet would have to be smaller but I’d be asking What Would Jesus Have Me Do? Jesus, knowing me completely with all my failings, insecurities, lack of faith, self doubt, time restraints etc etc. what would you have me do in this situation or for this person. What can I say that will make a difference? What should I pray? How should I react? I don’t want to be defeatist about this but I can never measure up to the example set me by Jesus, I know that and he knows that. I could live my life in failure continually asking WWJD and discovering that I can’t do most of the things he would do. Or I can ask myself What Would Jesus Have ME Do and at least achieve little goals for Him each day. Yes, I need to become more like Jesus, but I need small steps to help me along the way. I can’t scale mountains in one mighty leap but I can slowly and even painfully scale the heights one step at a time.
He’d heal the sick
He’d walk on water
He’d go all the way to the cross
He’d confront the leaders
He’d resist all temptation
He’d feed the poor
He’d love all his enemies
He’d die for those who hate him
He’d teach with wisdom and authority
He’d go the extra mile every single time
He’d mix with prostitutes and the outcasts
He’d confront the wrong doers and the Pharisees
He’d command the sea and the waves be still
He would show people God
If I could measure up to just one of these things I’d think I was doing pretty great. I think the question I’d like to ask is WWJHMD? Ok so it’s not as catchy and the writing on the bracelet would have to be smaller but I’d be asking What Would Jesus Have Me Do? Jesus, knowing me completely with all my failings, insecurities, lack of faith, self doubt, time restraints etc etc. what would you have me do in this situation or for this person. What can I say that will make a difference? What should I pray? How should I react? I don’t want to be defeatist about this but I can never measure up to the example set me by Jesus, I know that and he knows that. I could live my life in failure continually asking WWJD and discovering that I can’t do most of the things he would do. Or I can ask myself What Would Jesus Have ME Do and at least achieve little goals for Him each day. Yes, I need to become more like Jesus, but I need small steps to help me along the way. I can’t scale mountains in one mighty leap but I can slowly and even painfully scale the heights one step at a time.
So, I’m off to get millions of imaginary WWJHMD? Bracelets made. Perhaps you might join me in metaphorically wearing one.
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Thank you, Nathan - this sums it up beautifully. I've never had a WWJD bracelet but knowing myself, if I had one, it would just become another reminder of my failures and imperfections to me. I don't need another reminder of all the ways I'm NOT like Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI'm not playing down the whole WWJD movement and when you look at it's roots, in its beginnings it brought about a significant revival.
But it's true that just too many times one would have to admit Jesus would address a given issue differently from us, simply because He's God (such as heal the sick).
That's why I'd like to "order" one of your imaginary WWJHMD bracelets... I'll send you some imaginary money for it, too :-)
Thanks for that, raised some great points there.
ReplyDeleteWhat would Jesus have me do? That's what more and more of us need to be asking and then staying still and quiet long enough to hear the answer. How many times have I rushed in because I thought something should be done and somebody should be doing it? God deals with each of us differently, wanting us to use the gifts and talents He's quipped us with. Are willing to wait, listen and then do? What would Jesus have me do? That must be my constant prayer.
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