WWJD
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)
Do you remember the evangelistic movement in the 1990s that popularized bracelets stamped with WWJD--What Would Jesus Do? This phrase became the mantra of a generation, with teenagers proudly wearing those simple reminders to live like Jesus.
Of course, none of us is actually Jesus. So, what does it mean to live like Jesus? What does it mean to have the same attitude Paul urged the Philippians to embrace?
We may not share Jesus' exact circumstances, but we're absolutely called to imitate His character. Dallas Willard said it beautifully: A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do. So, we look to Jesus for direction and inspiration for what our lives should look like. He put others first, refused selfish ambition, chose humility and served instead of being served. His life overflowed with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
Jesus didn't live asking, What benefits me? He noticed the overlooked, the hurting and the inconvenient. He stopped for people others ignored and showed compassion to those society pushed aside. His life was marked by humility wrapped in love.
As we pursue Jesus and allow Him to shape our character, spiritual fruit begins to grow in our lives. Following Jesus is more than copying a few of His actions or trying to behave better. At its core, discipleship is surrendering ourselves to His way of life. A disciple decides that if Jesus says something is true, good and right, then that becomes the goal of their life as well. Over time, that changes us. We begin to care about what He cares about. We become slower to seek recognition and quicker to serve others. Humility, compassion, forgiveness and selflessness begin to grow in us because we are learning to take on the attitude of Christ Himself.
The question was never simply, What would Jesus do? The deeper question is whether we're becoming people who think, love and live like Him.
APPLICATION: We are on a daily journey of becoming more like Jesus. What would it look like for you to think, love and live more like Jesus today?
PRAYER: Jesus, help me know You and become more like You. Teach me Your ways and shape my heart. Thank You for always being with me. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?