WWJD
Dear Child,
What would you do if you were me?
If you encountered someone with purple hair and nose rings. What would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
If you encountered a group of teenagers dressed all in black, with black nail polish and heavy black makeup…boys and girls alike. What would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
If you encountered someone who hadn’t bathed in a while, or had their clothes laundered. What would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
If you encountered someone that showed nothing but disdain, defiance, hate and disrespect, what would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
If you encountered loners, the indifferent, the wallflowers. What would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
All those that are not the same as you. Those that don’t hold the same values, don’t share the same principles or beliefs about marriage, work, politics, child rearing, or Me. What would you do? How would you emulate my Son to them?
What would you do if you were me?
–God
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
I John 2:3-6
Being Jesus is what we must choose to do every day.
Because being Jesus means…
To those with the purple hair and nose rings. Instead of criticism, love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
To the kids all in black, with black makeup and black fingernails. Instead of disdain, love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
To those that don’t bathe and whose clothes are never washed. Instead of avoidance, love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
To the defiant ones who curse and hate and disrespect. Instead of contempt, love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
To the loners, the indifferent and the wall flowers. Instead of passing over. See them! Love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
To those that are not like you. Love them!
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
I will declare the name of Jesus with my lips. I will be Jesus with my arms, my legs, my actions, and my attitude. I will show them acceptance, grace, mercy, forgiveness, understanding, and love. This is what I will do.
Because that’s what Jesus would do.
And what of you? What will you do? How will you let God use you? How will you be Jesus to the people around you? Remember, God doesn’t need a lot, to do a lot. He just needs you to be willing to say yes.
Even if it’s a broken yes.
Dear Father. Some people are so hard to love! Please help me to get over my prejudices, my personal space, and my own pride! I want to be like Jesus. He reached out so many times to the outcast and unwanted. Please give me the strength and courage to do what Jesus would do. Always. Amen.
