A few years ago, a little question from a book was going around the churches in the US and was an instant commercial success: “WWJD” for short?
Of course, as anything is good and expedient in the service of the god mammon, and those who see everywhere the opportunity of getting rich quick at the expense of those who believed that wearing a bracelet or drink in a cup with the initials “WWJD” would experienced a life change and become super spiritual Christians, drove the pack with enthusiasm and the glittering market of religious fools´ traps was in full production.
I am sure that among them were very sincere people who used this gimmick to witness of their faithfulness and devotion to God and to start a conversation with unbelievers. This criticism is mostly directed to manufacturers and retailers of this merchandise.
It reminds me of my childhood how I loved and was proud of my big fluorescent statue of the virgin which watched over my disturbed sleep at night. I bought her with my allowance at Lourdes, a French shrine where the streets are lined up with merchants of idols. I was very sincere then, but also totally ignorant of the love of God for me and of salvation through Jesus-Christ.
But still, the question remains! “What would Jesus do?” The question seems valid, but the answer is simple and clear since we already know what he did and commands us to do the same?
Let’s see what Jesus told His disciples in John 13:34, -- Judas had already been sent away so as not to partake of the substance of the teaching on the Holy Spirit reserved for the believers-- : “a new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you.”
How did Jesus loved his disciples and how does he love us today?
Divine agape love is manifested in attitudes perfectly described by Paul in I Corinthians and Philippians 2 and through examples of actions throughout the epistles. Obviously, it is the love of Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the believers, for Jesus “said;” without me you can do nothing." These attitudes and actions are based on the actions of Jesus just after the last supper. The Lord Jesus will never ask us to do something he didn’t demonstrate to us while he was on this earth.
Paul uses a superlative when he describes the face of love: “and now. I will show you the most excellent way.” I Corinthians 12:31.
Going back to John, beginning of chapter 13, verse 1 says that Jesus: “having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love, or he loved them to the last.” Another superlative!
How did he love them? The following scene while he washes the disciples’ feet shows us the example of love in action, first in the Savior’s attitude of humility and then by the practice of service to his disciples. It is in this service to our brothers and sisters in the church our spiritual family, whatever their needs might be that we find the answer to the question: “What would Jesus do?
Paul in Galatians 5:6 reaffirms this notion of disinterested service when he speaks of the freedom in Christ: ’the only thing that counts is faith expressed through love.”
It is not only a family affair, but it is also our witness to the dying world around us who has lost its compass and lost its way in the surrounding darkness and the darkness that rules in their hearts because of sin that blinds their understanding.
Jesus said: "This is how the world will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.”John 13:35.
John said: " this is how we know we are in him, whoever claims to be in him must walk (live) as Jesus did." I John 4:13.
For a study on the same subject click on the link:
http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2009/12/preparing-way-for-jesus-second-coming.html
Jean-Louis.
Of course, as anything is good and expedient in the service of the god mammon, and those who see everywhere the opportunity of getting rich quick at the expense of those who believed that wearing a bracelet or drink in a cup with the initials “WWJD” would experienced a life change and become super spiritual Christians, drove the pack with enthusiasm and the glittering market of religious fools´ traps was in full production.
I am sure that among them were very sincere people who used this gimmick to witness of their faithfulness and devotion to God and to start a conversation with unbelievers. This criticism is mostly directed to manufacturers and retailers of this merchandise.
It reminds me of my childhood how I loved and was proud of my big fluorescent statue of the virgin which watched over my disturbed sleep at night. I bought her with my allowance at Lourdes, a French shrine where the streets are lined up with merchants of idols. I was very sincere then, but also totally ignorant of the love of God for me and of salvation through Jesus-Christ.
But still, the question remains! “What would Jesus do?” The question seems valid, but the answer is simple and clear since we already know what he did and commands us to do the same?
Let’s see what Jesus told His disciples in John 13:34, -- Judas had already been sent away so as not to partake of the substance of the teaching on the Holy Spirit reserved for the believers-- : “a new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you.”
How did Jesus loved his disciples and how does he love us today?
Divine agape love is manifested in attitudes perfectly described by Paul in I Corinthians and Philippians 2 and through examples of actions throughout the epistles. Obviously, it is the love of Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the believers, for Jesus “said;” without me you can do nothing." These attitudes and actions are based on the actions of Jesus just after the last supper. The Lord Jesus will never ask us to do something he didn’t demonstrate to us while he was on this earth.
Paul uses a superlative when he describes the face of love: “and now. I will show you the most excellent way.” I Corinthians 12:31.
Going back to John, beginning of chapter 13, verse 1 says that Jesus: “having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love, or he loved them to the last.” Another superlative!
How did he love them? The following scene while he washes the disciples’ feet shows us the example of love in action, first in the Savior’s attitude of humility and then by the practice of service to his disciples. It is in this service to our brothers and sisters in the church our spiritual family, whatever their needs might be that we find the answer to the question: “What would Jesus do?
Paul in Galatians 5:6 reaffirms this notion of disinterested service when he speaks of the freedom in Christ: ’the only thing that counts is faith expressed through love.”
It is not only a family affair, but it is also our witness to the dying world around us who has lost its compass and lost its way in the surrounding darkness and the darkness that rules in their hearts because of sin that blinds their understanding.
Jesus said: "This is how the world will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.”John 13:35.
John said: " this is how we know we are in him, whoever claims to be in him must walk (live) as Jesus did." I John 4:13.
For a study on the same subject click on the link:
http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2009/12/preparing-way-for-jesus-second-coming.html
Jean-Louis.
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