Unless you're a recent visitor to this planet :-) you've definitely seen the arm-bracelets, T-shirts, ball caps, and bumper stickers with four famous letters: "WWJD". The question "What Would Jesus Do?" is based on a classic Christian novel called "In His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon. The question "What Would Jesus Do?" can truly become a life-changing question, and it has influenced many people to ponder their actions before they proceed. The King James Version reads in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." It is relaying the concept that not only should we imitate the actions of Jesus, but we should go so far as to imitate the very thoughts and the mindset of Christ.
There is a great possibility that we might do exactly what Jesus would do, and yet fail to think what Jesus would think.
For an example -- let's look at Jeremy, an up-and-coming businessman in a fairly successful firm.
Recently, Jeremy has made a secret pledge before God that he will ask himself, "What Would Jesus Do?" He is doing his best to fulfill that pledge. Jeremy feels that he has proven himself at his company. With a young family and increasing bills, Jeremy hopes that management's eye is on him and that he will soon see a promotion. He is constantly being assigned new responsibilites, but the pay does not seem to measure up. Meanwhile, his wife frets over the money situation and pressures him daily about upcoming bills.
One afternoon, Jeremy is approached by one of his seniors, who acknowledges Jeremy's workload and the mismatch in pay. The man then confides to Jeremy that he also is underpaid, and that the company payroll is managed by "cheapskates" who rarely give raises. The good news, however, is that he has discovered a way to make money in spite of management. The details he unfolds leave Jeremy quite uncomfortable. Jeremy knows he could never accept the offer of dishonest dealings, not with his pledge to ask "What Would Jesus Do?" And so Jeremy dismisses the offer.
As he drives home, he shakes his head and thinks about how easy that money would be, if only he were a dishonest man. He considers the situation presented to him, and just for fun begins to "role-play the impossible" a bit in his mind. He imagines the money -- just as the man described it would fall effortlessly into their hands. He knows he will never follow through with it, but he does enjoy the mental image of the smile and beaming pride on his wife's face, if he brought home a paycheck like that. He grins to himself, and then shakes it off because he knows it will not happen.
Jeremy, in his actions, has done what Jesus would have done, but he certainly has not thought the way Jesus would think -- Jeremy does not possess the "mind of Christ."
It may be a foreign concept to us that there is a standard for Christians even for the way we think. It is one thing to ponder our actions before we do them. It is another thing altogether, to consider our thoughts before we think them. Is that even possible?
Well, possible or not, God makes it clear that He wants to have control over every thought : “and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5
What is your mindset? Do you have the mind of Christ?
We read in Matthew 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." I do believe that a person on the outside could live a clean and Christlike life, and yet be a defiled person, because of things taking place on the inside -- in his heart and mind.
So, do you think like Jesus?
Consider, Would that good news you're so excited about be good news to Him?
You earned a huge promotion! More money. More power. More responsibility. On the downside, though, this promotion is going to cost your family a bit. You'll be home less, so that does mean less family time. Your wife will have to lead the family devotions -- most days you'll be gone before the kids are up and come home after they're in bed. No more meals shared together either, so no more leading prayers at the dinnertable. Of course, you'll have to give up that "date night" each week where you enjoyed one-on-one time with your spouse. Rumor has it you may be assigned rotating shifts several weekends a month, so that will mean also missing driving your family to church services. Basically, you can forget about setting the example and being the spiritual leader in your home. So, with this in mind ... what would Jesus think? If you came to Christ with a beaming face, and shared your good news about your promotion with Jesus, would He smile? Do you think your good news would be good news to Christ? What would He think?
Your son made All-Stars on his sports team! That was a daydream of yours -- now he's beaming, and you're beaming. The coach passes out the travel schedule--- wait a minute, some of the games are on Sunday! The practices are on Wednesay. So for a few weeks your son can't attend church or youth group. You can't either, come to think of it. He may also have to miss the church's summer Youth Camp. You photocopy the team schedules, and shamelessly invite the proud grandparents to miss church and come watch their grandson play. With a beaming face, you inadvertently train your kids that sports are more important than God. Would that All-Star Team be good news to Christ? What would He think?
Your daughter is brilliant: straight A's, top of her class. Her good grades have earned her a partial scholarship to a great school, the one she really wanted! All her dreams are coming true, and you are so happy for her. And yet, you notice that with all her school activities and busywork, her heart seems to be growing cold on God. She rarely listens in church, and seems to be daydreaming. She is certainly focusing all her energies and attention on how she can succeed with her goals in life, and you now realize she has never truly consulted God's plan for her life. Would that young success story be good news to Jesus? What would He think?
Consider also, Would that bad news you're depessed about be bad news to Jesus?
In school, you’re being forced to take a strong stand against sin. It all started when someone made fun of you after you invited them to church. Now you're wishing you had kept your tract to yourself and your big mouth shut. Somehow the whole school seems to know that you are "born again" and they won't leave you alone. You come home crying to your parents, quite upset about the reaction you are getting, and wishing that you could just fit in. But ponder for a minute -- Would this story be bad news to Jesus? Would He think this same way if He was persecuted, holding self-pity and being remorseful for doing what was right? What would Jesus think?
A widow is quite upset when her son announces his call to move to Asia as a missionary. She has already lost a husband, and she finds it hard to believe that God wants her son to leave as well. In her heart, she feels her family has already sacrificed enough. Her husband died too young. A child away in a foreign land seems too much. To her closest friends she confides her bitterness and her misgivings about her son leaving. But would that news, losing a child to the mission field, be bad news to Christ? Or would it cause Him to weep with joy? What would He think?
Consider also, Would that hard decision you're pondering be a hard decision for Jesus?
It’s been a hard month, and you’re a little short on cash. You’re debating skipping your tithes next month and saving your money. But then you remember the way Jesus thinks: Jesus applauded a little widow woman who gave her very last mite to God. Would tithing in difficult circumstances be a hard decision for Jesus? What does He think about it?
You’ve been invited to a company party where you are fairly sure you will find yourself in a compromising situation: dancing, alcohol , filthy conversation, and flirtation. But your heart also worries that if you don’t show up and socialize with management, your name will probably drop off "the big list" for the promotion. And so you toss this difficult situation in your mind. But would it be a hard decision for Jesus? Would He be struggling with this in His mind? What would Jesus think?
Family members who rarely visit arrive in town late Saturday night. They announce that they plan on sleeping in on Sunday morning. You hesitate to invite them to church, and wonder if you will even go yourself. You consider staying home with family and spending the morning with them when they wake up. It is honestly a very hard decision for you. You're not sure what to do. Would it be a hard decision for Jesus? What would He think about this quandary?
Your kids have been invited on a camping trip with a neighbor family; but you don’t exactly trust their standards and morals. Your kids are begging and pleading to go, and the neighbors are pressuring you too. The kids really want permission, but something inside you worries about the off-chance that they may be exposed to sinful things. It seems like a hard decision. What would Jesus think? Would it be a hard choice for Him?
It's hard isn't it -- trying not only to do what Jesus would do, but to think the way He would think. Let's ask the Lord to help us think like Him.
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