What Would Jesus Say?

For Christmas last year my brother in law gave me a book called The Greatest Words Ever Spoken.  In it, the words of Jesus are presented under about 200 topics. These have been divided into 9 categories by the author, Steven K. Scott, but only the book’s Introduction and 2 to 4 pages at the beginning of each of the 9 chapters are written by Scott. The rest of the words in the 489 page book are Jesus’ words; everything He said in the New International Version of the New Testament, without commentary or explanation.

I remember several years ago there was a movement among Christian youth groups, wearing bracelets bearing the initials WWJD - “What would Jesus do?”  I thought it was kind of a neat campaign, and commendable that those young people were not ashamed for all of their peers to know that they wanted to be like Christ. Wearing a bracelet to remind yourself of the teachings of Christ is not that different from what God commanded the Israelites to do in Numbers 15, “Throughout the generations you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at so you will remember all the commands of the Lord.”
Although I don’t see how anyone could object to people trying to base their actions on Jesus’ teachings, or to wearing a bracelet as a reminder, I remember seeing an article somewhere that said if you really want to do what Jesus would do, you should take off your WWJD bracelet and repent of falling prey to such a foolish marketing fad. . . .

While I was looking online for that article so that I could credit the author for his censure of WWJD bracelets, I came across a TRULY offensive item for sale!

For $17 plus $8 shipping you can find the answers you seek.

“This 11 inch pink velvet statue of Jesus offers 20 different answers to help you choose the right path. Ask a question  - the answer you seek magically appears. Your personal Jesus will respond with wisdom such as ‘Have faith’, ‘Yes my child’, or ‘Sinner’.”

And, by the way, there is an “Answer Buddha” as well. He is only 6.5 inches tall, but of course he’s fat. A couple of his 20 answers are “Meditate on it” and “Bend with the wind.”

. . . . However, this article is not about marketing fads or offensive items for sale on the internet. (When our blog leader, Randy D. doesn’t give us a specific topic or scripture to write about, I’m apt to wander off of a bit. . . .)

In his introduction to the book, The Greatest Words Ever Spoken, the author suggests that when a choice has to be made, WWJD? might not be the most important question. The question Christians should ask before choosing a course of action is WDJS - “What did Jesus say?”  In many cases we simply can’t know for sure what Jesus would do, so we are left to figure it out for ourselves. And figuring it out may take more wisdom and spiritual maturity than we might have in certain situations and at certain times.

We DO, on the other hand, have access to the words and teachings of Jesus to guide us in our decisions. His stories and teachings equip us with everything we need for guidance in every situation. If we will just stay in His Word.

And Jesus gave us incredible promises if we would use his words to guide our beliefs, decisions, and actions:
   “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32.

   And in Matthew 7:24-27,  “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

That’s what our choices and our hopes must be based on: The rock-solid foundation of the words of Christ.

Thank you, Father for Your Word of Truth. And for sending your beloved Son to put those truths into words and stories I can understand. Help me to order my priorities so that I will spend more time and give more of myself to studying Your Word. I pray through Jesus that I may gain a deeper understanding of the application of your Word for my life.

Lynn Anne Hughes

Stephenville, Texas