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| 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6 |
In the 1989 a youth group at Calvary Reformed Church in Holland, MI read and studied Charles Sheldon's book. Like the congregation in the novel, the Holland youth group were stunned. They too promised to ask, "What Would Jesus Do?" To help them remember, they found someone to make bracelets that had the four letters - WWJD - representing the question, What Would Jesus Do? The bracelets led to many questions from friends, classmates, and parents. Soon, the community was wearing the bracelets. Now, more than 15 million bracelets have been sold.
The word Christian means "little Christ." Ephesians 5:1 tells us that just as children mimic their parents as children of God we are to imitate God. The beginning of Ephesians is all about what God has done for us. He has made us His children and therefore we are heirs. Now we need to start acting like Him. That's what it means to be Christ-like. Some has asked, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
All through Scripture God tells us to copy Him. In Leviticus 11:45 He says, "Be holy, for I am holy." In Matthew 5:48 ".. you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect." In Luke 6:36, "Be merciful just as your Father also is merciful." In Ephesians 4:32, "Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." In I John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 Peter 2:21 says that
 1 Peter 2:21 |
"Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." |
But the next verses show us how to do this. Verse 22 says, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." Guile means deceit. Christ always honest. He never deceived any one. Verse 23 says "who, when He was reviled, reviled not again." "Revile" means to insult; to curse. When other men cursed Him and insulted Him, He never cursed them back. Verse 23 continues, "when He suffered He threatened not."
Have you ever thought what Jesus would do if he walked on earth today instead of 2,000 years ago? Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." I am convinced that we can find the answer to the question "What would Jesus do?" by asking another question "What did Jesus do?"
1. JESUS OBEYED. There are many verses throughout the gospels that tell us of Jesus' obedience to the will of the Father. He said in John 14:31, "as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do." In John 5:30, "I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." Jesus was obedient even to death. Philippians 2:8 says, "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death."
2. JESUS STUDIED. Luke 2:41-51 records the story of how Jesus at age 12 was in the temple with the learned scholars "listening to them and asking them questions." They were "astonished at His under-standing and answers." As a child Jesus was probably taught the scrolls of the prophets every day at His mother's knee. During His ministry His intimate acquaintance and knowledge of the Scriptures shows that he had diligently studied them as a young man.
3. JESUS PRAYED. In the gospels Jesus is always praying. There are many records of His public prayer, but there are also many verses that show us His private prayer life (Mark 6:46; Luke 5:15-16; 6:12; 9:18. Mark 1:35 says "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." If prayer was so important to Jesus, how much more important it ought to be to us.
4. JESUS SERVED. When Jesus came to the world He was born in a barn. He had no home. Philippians 2:7 says He "made Himself of no reputation, but took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." In Mark 10:35-45, the disciples argued who was the greatest. Jesus said "the Son of Man didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life." In John 13 at the last supper Jesus acted as a slave by washing the disciple's feet as an example of serving others.
5. JESUS FORGAVE. In John 8:2-12 an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus. To the accusers He said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone." And to the woman, Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." At the cross Jesus prayed for His killers, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they do" (Luke 23:34). Jesus will forgive every past, present and future sin. 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
6. JESUS LOVED. God's love for us brought Jesus to earth and to the cross. He said in 1 John 3:16 says, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." When Pastor Max Lucado took his daughter to the park she ran to play in the sandbox. An man came by selling ice-cream and so he bought her one to give to his daughter. When he turned to give her the treat he saw she had sand in her mouth. Did he love her? Yes. Was she still his daughter? Yes. Did he leave her this way? No. He carried her to the water fountain and washed out her mouth. Why? Because he loved her. And God loves you just the way you are but He wants you to become just like Jesus. Are you ready to follow in His steps? Jesus said,
John 13:17 |
"I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you" |
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by Steve Nicholes
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