What Would Jesus Do?

When we think of any action we might take in life, that is a key questions we should ask ourselves, what would Jesus do?  When it comes to where we should find ourselves and who we should associate with, I would ask what “did” Jesus do.  A study of the New Testament reveals that Jesus related to everyone.  He had a close group of friends, His disciples.  He taught to large crowds that certainly had people from all walks of life and persuasions.  He was highly criticized by the leaders of the church because He sat down and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes.

Why didn’t Jesus just hang out with those that were receiving His message?  Jesus didn’t come to start a club, He came to save the lost.  A doctor doesn’t visit the well, he visit the sick.  I know we are not Jesus, be He called us to become more like Himself.  That begs the question, are we to go out into the world and try to help the very worst in our society?  Yes.  We cannot hope to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world if we run away from the lost.  We are not of this world, but we are definitely in it.  How can we protect ourselves from all that is lost about this world while getting so close to it?  May I offer a few suggestions;

1.  Stay in the Word.  Reading of the scripture equips us with faith, wisdom, and His knowledge so that we can know what He did, and what we must do, to reach out to a lost world.  The perfect example of how to reach out and share His love was modeled by Him for us.

2.  Always remember that;   John 3:16-17   ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  We will never reach those hurting and lost by condemnation.  Jesus loved them to himself, we must do the same.

3.   Have a refuge of fellowship for your  own protection.  I’ve often heard Christians say, I believer but I don’t go to church.  Seeking and maintaining fellowship with other believers is your life line to what are your core beliefs.  Out in the world attempting to reach the lost, you will need the support, prayer, and comfort of those that join you in that effort to find and present God’s love to those most in need.

5.  We must, again, become like little children, and have an unquestioning faith in our Saviour.

It is our mission as those saved by His grace, compassion, and love to reach out to a world in need and offer the same.

the pilgrim

* Portrait of Jesus by a child, from the book Jesus in Art.