Beyond Common Sense

WWJD—What would Jesus do?  What a wonderful mantra. (By the way, that word ‘mantra’ means: in Hindu and Buddhist religious practice, a sacred word, chant, or sound that is repeated during meditation to facilitate spiritual power and transformation of consciousness.  Somehow, it doesn’t seem fitting to use it in reference to Jesus Christ!) HOWEVER, the idea is a good one: WWJD—repeat it before every move we make!

But at times it’s hard to translate out movements into that little four word phrase.  What exactly would Jesus do in this or that twenty-first century situation, and life becomes complicated.  I suppose that is why Luke 8 was so refreshing to me during my devotions the other day:

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, Luke 8:1

What DID Jesus do:

1. He went throughout every city and village

He walked from village to village—he went everywhere.  For me, that means I need to get out of my house, off the mountain and be out there!  In our world of technology, we can hide behind a computer screen or other electronic devise and never say a word to anyone! We fill the gas tank and never speak to a human. We check ourselves out at the store. We use the MAC machine!

2. He SHOWED the “glad tidings of the kingdom of God

I love this phrase!  We have such Good News to tell!  Jesus died for our sins! We can live this life free of guilt and shame and worry!  Heaven is our future home and I live this life in the shadow of His wing, leaning on the Everlasting Arms of Jesus, only by His grace! What glad tidings!

And notice that He preached and showed the Good News or Gospel.  We are all “preaching.”  Like the children’s song says: Do you know, Oh Christian, You’re a Sermon in Shoes?  Our words preach. Our actions and reactions preach!  Our walk preaches much more than our talk preaches!  But, our words become the icing on the cake.  Proverbs 25:11 says:

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

What a beautiful picture; and although his description is a little wordy, Adam Clarke describes it best:

Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Is like the refreshing orange or beautiful citron, served up in open work or filigree baskets, made of silver. The Asiatics excel in filigree silver work. I have seen much of it, and it is exquisitely beautiful. The silver wire by which it is done they form into the appearance of numerous flowers; and though these wires are soldered everywhere at their junctions with each other, yet this is done with such delicacy and skill as to be scarcely perceptible. I have seen animals formed on this filigree work, with all their limbs, and every joint in its natural play. Fruit-baskets are made also in this way, and are exquisitely fine. The wise man seems to have this kind of work particularly in view; and the contrast of the golden yellow fruit in the exquisitely wrought silver basket, which may be all termed picture work, has a fine and pleasing effect upon the eye, as the contained fruit has upon the palate at an entertainment in a sultry climate. So the word spoken judiciously and opportunely is as much in its place, as the golden apples in the silver baskets.

What better words to give than a reference to our Savior.  You may not be used to saying such things.  Start small: Just a “Praise the Lord” or “Thank God” will get you into the habit of referencing your Savior in the market place or work place or even among friends and family.  Then a testimony of what God has done for you lately is another step leading to an opportunity to share how He saved your soul.

If you’re like me, it seems as though every topic under the sun is easier to talk about than our relationship with Christ.  Not so in the New Testament church. When Peter and John were taken before the Jewish council and commanded not to speak of Jesus they said: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20) This literally means that they were “bubbling over” with the Gospel, like a pot on the stove—it was the natural thing to do!  That’s what I want!

Can you imagine the change that we would see in America if we started to “bubble over” with the Good News of God’s kingdom?  Speaking that word of witness is the most rewarding thing your can do for your soul!  If brings such joy!  It refreshes the spirit and strengthens the soul AND it really makes Old Scratch nervous.  Don’t you think he’s had enough victories in the lives of Christians?  If nothing else, at times the thought of defeating Satan is enough to drive me to speak or hand out a Gospel tract!  Sweet victory in Jesus!