It seems this acronym has somewhat faded out and I have mixed feelings about that. I don't like it when things become such commonplace in our lives that it is no big deal. For a while there it seemed to me a lot of people were on the WWJD? bandwagon without really being reminded to guard your activities because Jesus probably really wouldn't be doing what you just did.
Fortunately, Jesus spent time here on earth showing us exactly what He would do. He showed us to care for the poor, the sick, and the ones who had nothing to give. He showed us that ministering to the needs of others was our greatest purpose. He did this even at extraordinary times. I am reminded of the passage in Luke 22. Judas had brought the guards to arrest Jesus. Peter, thinking he should defend Jesus, drew a sword and cut off one of the guards' ears. Even as they were questioning Jesus to arrest Him, Jesus was touching the guard's ear and healing it. I have to tell you, personally, it is hard enough for me to feel compassion for someone after they have done something to hurt me, let alone while that something is still in the midst of happening but Jesus shows us that should really be the depth of our love for others.
Through numerous accounts in the Gospels, we see Jesus setting our example. From talking to the Samaritan woman, to dining with Zacheaus, to healing a man on the Sabbath. And then we see all those "Holier-than-thou" people judging Him for doing so. Just as they looked stupid for thinking they were better than Christ, we look.......well, you know.
It's never good when we decide we are better than that other person that God created, that God loves, and that God is just waiting for YOU and ME to do the right thing by them.
I was led back to one of my favorites scripture passages this week. Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus IS the author and finisher of our faith. He not only came to earth to walk among us, He not only lived a perfect life here so He could truly be the perfect sacrifice for every time of every day that we do something wrong, He showed us the perfect example of how we should live.
Most of you know my job is to help low-income people. I see so many people judge my clients on a daily basis, and I used to get angry. Oh who am I kidding? I am working on not getting angry, but I still do. I know it doesn't do any good though so I truly am working on it. I do try to suggest that if you don't know the story, don't think you know the story.
Just because they drove a new car to the food pantry doesn't mean they didn't borrow it from a compassionate friend. Or, just because the car looks new, it might be an older car that they are trying to take really good care of. Being poor does not mean everything you own has to look old and worn down. Just because they are wearing nice clothes doesn't mean they aren't spending the little money they had wisely, it might just mean they went to the thrift store and bought something nice to wear to a job interview. And let's face it, there are people out there that, if a person showed up to a job interview in ratty clothes, wouldn't think of hiring them. Then there is my number one, they have a cell phone. Okay, some points that have a common thread. If they are jobless, there is a chance they are homeless. If you are homeless, it is pretty hard to have a landline. If you are looking for a job, you want to get that call. So, this is another one of a million things that they are wrong if they have and wrong if they have not. What Would Jesus Do? Thinking back to just exactly how Jesus treated the ones mentioned earlier, how would He have treated these people? Would any of those, "why do they have that?" questions went through His mind? No. He would have focused on the fact that for that moment, He was in contact with that person and He was going to be a blessing.
Do you know sometimes all it takes to make someone's day is a smile? How about a challenge for this week? As we encounter people on the street, in a store, or even driving down the road (this one is a BIG challenge for me!); instead of jumping to judgment, let's send up a prayer for whatever that person might be going through and then, if you are really in for a challenge, give them a smile, help them get their groceries in their car, be a compassionate stranger--truly do what Jesus would do.
The song for this week is an all-time favorite of mine. I listen to this a lot and try to take it to heart.
Here is Sidewalk Prophet's Live Like That
Fortunately, Jesus spent time here on earth showing us exactly what He would do. He showed us to care for the poor, the sick, and the ones who had nothing to give. He showed us that ministering to the needs of others was our greatest purpose. He did this even at extraordinary times. I am reminded of the passage in Luke 22. Judas had brought the guards to arrest Jesus. Peter, thinking he should defend Jesus, drew a sword and cut off one of the guards' ears. Even as they were questioning Jesus to arrest Him, Jesus was touching the guard's ear and healing it. I have to tell you, personally, it is hard enough for me to feel compassion for someone after they have done something to hurt me, let alone while that something is still in the midst of happening but Jesus shows us that should really be the depth of our love for others.
Through numerous accounts in the Gospels, we see Jesus setting our example. From talking to the Samaritan woman, to dining with Zacheaus, to healing a man on the Sabbath. And then we see all those "Holier-than-thou" people judging Him for doing so. Just as they looked stupid for thinking they were better than Christ, we look.......well, you know.
It's never good when we decide we are better than that other person that God created, that God loves, and that God is just waiting for YOU and ME to do the right thing by them.
I was led back to one of my favorites scripture passages this week. Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus IS the author and finisher of our faith. He not only came to earth to walk among us, He not only lived a perfect life here so He could truly be the perfect sacrifice for every time of every day that we do something wrong, He showed us the perfect example of how we should live.
Most of you know my job is to help low-income people. I see so many people judge my clients on a daily basis, and I used to get angry. Oh who am I kidding? I am working on not getting angry, but I still do. I know it doesn't do any good though so I truly am working on it. I do try to suggest that if you don't know the story, don't think you know the story.
Just because they drove a new car to the food pantry doesn't mean they didn't borrow it from a compassionate friend. Or, just because the car looks new, it might be an older car that they are trying to take really good care of. Being poor does not mean everything you own has to look old and worn down. Just because they are wearing nice clothes doesn't mean they aren't spending the little money they had wisely, it might just mean they went to the thrift store and bought something nice to wear to a job interview. And let's face it, there are people out there that, if a person showed up to a job interview in ratty clothes, wouldn't think of hiring them. Then there is my number one, they have a cell phone. Okay, some points that have a common thread. If they are jobless, there is a chance they are homeless. If you are homeless, it is pretty hard to have a landline. If you are looking for a job, you want to get that call. So, this is another one of a million things that they are wrong if they have and wrong if they have not. What Would Jesus Do? Thinking back to just exactly how Jesus treated the ones mentioned earlier, how would He have treated these people? Would any of those, "why do they have that?" questions went through His mind? No. He would have focused on the fact that for that moment, He was in contact with that person and He was going to be a blessing.
Do you know sometimes all it takes to make someone's day is a smile? How about a challenge for this week? As we encounter people on the street, in a store, or even driving down the road (this one is a BIG challenge for me!); instead of jumping to judgment, let's send up a prayer for whatever that person might be going through and then, if you are really in for a challenge, give them a smile, help them get their groceries in their car, be a compassionate stranger--truly do what Jesus would do.
The song for this week is an all-time favorite of mine. I listen to this a lot and try to take it to heart.
Here is Sidewalk Prophet's Live Like That
Comments
Post a Comment