What Would Jesus Do?

If you can remember, around year 2002 – 2003 I guess, blue magic (a gift store in the Philippines) are selling these bracelets with an acronym W.W.J.D. Its made of thick cloth about quarter of an inch wide. It is available in different colors: Black, white, blue, pink, green and etc.  I got a blue one.  During that time, I can see almost everyone wearing that bracelet. Maybe because it is the current trend or maybe this is also their personal motto. When I got that bracelet I would admit that it is combination of both. How I really wish they still sell those bracelet because nowhere in the Philippines I could find that kind of bracelet. Thank God, that one of the Christian bookstore here sells these kind of bracelet. Not a bracelet but a baller ID used by basketball players. Again, I got a blue one. 

Stop with the introduction and let me go to the main topic, What would Jesus Do? Sounds vague right? We are all aware of what He have done for us but not aware of what would He do in situations where we react differently. I use this phrase in everything I do. I must admit that I fail sometimes or more I could say most of the times. To be Christlike is a goal of every christian  or I suppose should be the goal of every christian. It is my goal and I could say I’m far from my goal.

We tend to justify things for our own sake not for His sake. We tend to say “there is nothing wrong with this” but in reality, every time we do that thing, it doesn’t please him.  The bible says “but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”^a What is good and what is bad? Your ability to determine good from bad would depend on your faith and your love to Jesus. If you know Jesus, you can tell what is right and what is wrong. Think of this, if Jesus is in your situation, what would He do? 

Saw “was” one of my favorite movie. Even it is gruesome, I like the concept and the plot of the story. It’s a 7-part movie and never missed a movie. Then one day the Lord speaks to me about this movie and made me think. “What would Jesus do?” If Jesus would watch a movie, we’ll He enjoy watching this. There are 2 possible answers:  You may say, there is nothing wrong with it. It’s just a  movie, its fictional. It is only for entertainment purpose and everything is not true they are just effects and prosthetic. Well, that is if you want to justify your actions. You can also apply this to porn or a movie that contains pornography. You can say, “It’s part of the story” The question is, it is really necessary? 2^nd answer would be, if Jesus will watch this kind of movie, will he be delighted? I don’t think so. He doesn’t want us to get hurt, He love us so much so do you think he would enjoy watching someone torturing a person? Plain common sense. So I stopped watching it, I even deleted it from my Hard Drive and I also deleted spartacus from my Hard Drive. I rather please God, than to please my self. 

When it comes to music, I choose what I listen. Its very difficult to decide on this area. Is it okay to listen to rock music? Is it okay to listen to rap? The answer is, it depends. I would go for the message of the song and the meaning rather than how it was played. I love rock music so there are some christian rock bands out there. They play in high volume but the message of the song is so insipiring. That’s what I’m after. Also, I’m after with the background of the artist. If I know he/she is an atheiest or satanic, why would I listen to his/her song? Why support her? If she/he is a christian, I would love to support her even let us say his/her genre is not my type. Would Jesus enjoy to sing-along with songs that contains cursive words? You decide. 

When it comes to socializing, as a christian we are not prohibited to do so. We can still party and enjoy things in life but we should not be like those people who haven’t decided to follow Christ. Once in our life we made a big decision to follow Jesus. To make Him the Lord of our lives. We did that because we want to be with Him in heaven and He is the only way. The question is, do we love Him more than things that can temporarily make us happy?  You would say and no christian would ever say, I don’t love Jesus or I love myself more than Jesus. We would always say, He is on the top of our list. Picture this, its your birthday and you want to invite Jesus. For sure, He would love to celebrate with you no doubt about it but does He want to celebrate the way you want to celebrate? The reason why I don’t drink is to simply please God. I used to love to drink beer. Even it taste bitter, I love the taste but I’ve decided to be the salt and light of this world as much as I can. The danger of drinking is this, we (christian) don’t make difference at all. It could affect our witnessing. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” As a christian we should all be a good example of the difference of having Jesus in our lives. No amount of liquor, no expensive wine can make us happier than the life that we already have in Christ. We already have a life that we can have enjoy. 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I appeal to you “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We should influence others not the other way around. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Let us all make a change. 

As I close this let me just remind us all about this:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

Let us all light their way to Jesus. Let us not choose to be a friend of this world and become an enemy of God. Let us represent Christ the way He wants to be represented. God bless!

Bible Verses:

but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 NIV

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 NIV

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16 NIV