My spiritual mentor wears a black cap that has "DWJD" on the front in big letters. He wears it to make a point. Instead of ask, "What Would Jesus Do?" He says that we should start "Doing What Jesus Did." He says that we have story after story about what Jesus did and how he lived. Now we just need to go out and do it.
Sometimes we get so paralyzed by the fear of doing the wrong thing that we don't really do anything at all. "WWJD" is a fine place to start. But if that is where you stay as a Christian, you are not progressing toward the present reality of Christ. The Church must start "DWJD" if the world is to be changed.
The life of Jesus is remarkable once you start to inspect it. Jesus spent many homeless nights. He grew up as a normal guy with a regular job. He spent years in preparation for His ministry. These were not wasted years. No, they were necessary for His work.
Jesus faced the reality of pain and fear. Sometimes we forget the humanity of Christ. But He was like us in every way except He did not sin. Jesus had to face the pressure of the expectations of others. He knew what it was like to have people falsely accuse Him. Some accused Jesus of being a madman. Others said He was possessed by the devil. Still, others hung on His every word. Despite strong opposition, Christ lived a spectacular life. And the crazy thing is that He called us to do what He did.
The secret is that Jesus did nothing by Himself. Everything He did in his humanity, He did with the power of God as the Holy Spirit quickened Him. The same resource is provided to us.
Jesus did the following:
- Loved those who hated Him
- Healed many sick people and raised the dead
- Fed thousands with very little
- Walked on water
- Told strangers their past and future
- Befriended the outcasts and the poor
- Stood up against the rulers of the day when they failed to do the right thing
- Gave people hope
- Sacrificed Himself for others
- Talked constantly about the love of His Father
- Cast out demons
- Spoke with authority
- Gave glory to God in all He did
- Spoke in truth while treating people with grace
Is that what we see the Church doing today? Honestly, I don't do many of those things on a regular basis. My own questions convict my heart. Sometimes we get so busy in the conversation of spiritual thought that we miss the real significance of spiritual conversion.
God is calling us to go beyond conversation to conversion. God wants us to be conformed into the likeness of His Son.
