What Would Jesus Do?
That's a question that's been on my mind a lot the last few days. I've been reading this book called "Attachments" and there's a part in it that addresses the WWJD movement/fashion statement. The problem is that the book WWJD is based on assumes that Christ made a new decision each time He was faced with a problem. While each decision is unique, the actions of Jesus were fundamentally driven by a lifetime of faith development, complete obedience to the Father, and a sincerely loving heart. The good works and right choices were the NATURAL OUTCOME of a life devoted to prayer and love. I found that a very profound thought.
My mom interprets the parables in a slightly off-the-beaten-path kind of way. Most of the parables addressed somewhat unusual situations. It's not every day that a son demands his half of the inheritance and his father actually gives it to him. While it doesn't seem so crazy today - it was then. Especially before most people knew the parable. Anyway, the point is Jesus taught a lifestyle of love and INDIVIDUAL attention to people. He broke the molds. Not every problem had the same answer...at least not beyond treat all with love and put God first. That's it.
While our actions reveal who we are "on the inside" we simply won't make the right decisions with the right intentions unless there is a soild theology and faith behind the motions. If we do something good for a reward or praise and not to glorify God, then our actions are hollow. If we claim to be following Christ but don't let our internal faith life spill into our lives...then our faith is dead.
We're talking about spiritual dry spells over the next two youth group meetings at SMYG. I've been spending a lot of time praying about it. When we hit "dry spells" it's like a cleansing by fire to see if we really have irradicated impurities out of lives and developed a true reliance on and faith in God. If there's a heat shield keeping the fire away, gold can't be tested and purified. If God is holding our hand the entire time and being our heat shield, then how are we suppose to really have a deep and lasting faith? If you can always see something..it's not hard to believe in it. But that's the testing.
So. What would Jesus do? "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He knew what it was like to feel abandoned. He didn't make a new choice to follow the Father - He renewed and fulfilled it on the Cross. Christ..in all his humanity and divinity...spent thirty years before even emerging into real public light. He prepared. He was purified and sanctified. No doubt "dry spells" hit. But there are two ways to look at it... a way to become ultimately closer to God and still pray or have a "I don't feel God anymore so He's not real/doesn't care about me anymore" approach. What would Jesus do?
My mom interprets the parables in a slightly off-the-beaten-path kind of way. Most of the parables addressed somewhat unusual situations. It's not every day that a son demands his half of the inheritance and his father actually gives it to him. While it doesn't seem so crazy today - it was then. Especially before most people knew the parable. Anyway, the point is Jesus taught a lifestyle of love and INDIVIDUAL attention to people. He broke the molds. Not every problem had the same answer...at least not beyond treat all with love and put God first. That's it.
While our actions reveal who we are "on the inside" we simply won't make the right decisions with the right intentions unless there is a soild theology and faith behind the motions. If we do something good for a reward or praise and not to glorify God, then our actions are hollow. If we claim to be following Christ but don't let our internal faith life spill into our lives...then our faith is dead.
We're talking about spiritual dry spells over the next two youth group meetings at SMYG. I've been spending a lot of time praying about it. When we hit "dry spells" it's like a cleansing by fire to see if we really have irradicated impurities out of lives and developed a true reliance on and faith in God. If there's a heat shield keeping the fire away, gold can't be tested and purified. If God is holding our hand the entire time and being our heat shield, then how are we suppose to really have a deep and lasting faith? If you can always see something..it's not hard to believe in it. But that's the testing.
So. What would Jesus do? "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He knew what it was like to feel abandoned. He didn't make a new choice to follow the Father - He renewed and fulfilled it on the Cross. Christ..in all his humanity and divinity...spent thirty years before even emerging into real public light. He prepared. He was purified and sanctified. No doubt "dry spells" hit. But there are two ways to look at it... a way to become ultimately closer to God and still pray or have a "I don't feel God anymore so He's not real/doesn't care about me anymore" approach. What would Jesus do?